Wiki Date of Service Question

[CXZook]

A cord specimen is taken at birth, and we store it for up to 2 weeks. While the infant is admitted the provider will place an order for CordStat drug testing this is routine.

On this particular account, cord specimen taken at birth, provider placed an order but was never acted upon, infant is discharged, and order is discontinued due to discharge. Cord specimen goes into storage. 2 days after discharge the provider request that the cord be sent out for testing. What is the service date of the test, when collected, when pulled from storage, or when test was performed?

 

[danachock]

Hello CXZook
Specimen at birth and I will provide a fictional date 01/01/2035 (10 years from now).
Okay, CordStat drug testing was routine and wasn't done
Now, looking at the 2 weeks of storage and 2 days after discharge I am just going to "ballpark 17 days here please".
You bill the day the specimen was acquired. Whenever the surgeon delivered it to the pathology department is the date you use (the date of service). Not the date they (pathology) acquired it.
There is some contradicting information out there on how to bill this and I am hopeful anyone reading this is referring to their internal policies for validation please. It really falls on "internal policies".
What date the technical charge will be billed.
What date the professional charge will be billed.
Please fall back onto what your facility has in their coding guidelines.
Thanks for listening, and have a great evening,
Dana

 

[CXZook]

Hello CXZook
Specimen at birth and I will provide a fictional date 01/01/2035 (10 years from now).
Okay, CordStat drug testing was routine and wasn't done
Now, looking at the 2 weeks of storage and 2 days after discharge I am just going to "ballpark 17 days here please".
You bill the day the specimen was acquired. Whenever the surgeon delivered it to the pathology department is the date you use (the date of service). Not the date they (pathology) acquired it.
There is some contradicting information out there on how to bill this and I am hopeful anyone reading this is referring to their internal policies for validation please. It really falls on "internal policies".
What date the technical charge will be billed.
What date the professional charge will be billed.
Please fall back onto what your facility has in their coding guidelines.
Thanks for listening, and have a great evening,
Dana

Hi Dana - thank you so much for the response. I appreciate your input on this question.