lcclark75
New
I was asked an interesting question today and I'm not confident that I have the correct answer.
The question from lab was as follows:
"If we perform all of the tests for the 80047 and 80048 does it matter if we bill for 80047 + Total Ca or 80048 + iCa? Are we allowed to choose which one we bill?"
80047– Must include these tests: Calcium, ionized (82330), Carbon dioxide (82374), Chloride (82435), Creatinine (82565), Glucose (82947), Potassium (84132), Sodium (84295), and Urea Nitrogen (BUN) (84520)
80048 – Must include these tests: Calcium, total (82310), Carbon dioxide (82374), Chloride (82435), Creatinine (82565), Glucose (82947), Potassium (84132), Sodium (84295), Urea Nitrogen (BUN) (84520)
This is more of a billing question than coding question, but I just want to give the proper answer. My gut says "you bill the combination that is the least cost to the payers", but I need to find that in writing.![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
The question from lab was as follows:
"If we perform all of the tests for the 80047 and 80048 does it matter if we bill for 80047 + Total Ca or 80048 + iCa? Are we allowed to choose which one we bill?"
80047– Must include these tests: Calcium, ionized (82330), Carbon dioxide (82374), Chloride (82435), Creatinine (82565), Glucose (82947), Potassium (84132), Sodium (84295), and Urea Nitrogen (BUN) (84520)
80048 – Must include these tests: Calcium, total (82310), Carbon dioxide (82374), Chloride (82435), Creatinine (82565), Glucose (82947), Potassium (84132), Sodium (84295), Urea Nitrogen (BUN) (84520)
This is more of a billing question than coding question, but I just want to give the proper answer. My gut says "you bill the combination that is the least cost to the payers", but I need to find that in writing.