CPT Coding Corner

If we perform a frozen section and touch prep on a bisected lymph node while the   patient is still in the operating room and report a diagnosis, can we report 88331 and 88334?

Per the documentation of the intraoperative consultation, you can only report the frozen     section (88331) and the surgical code for the lymph node (88305).  The reason is there is no documentation to support that the frozen section and touch prep were performed on separate sites, on the same specimen.  

Therefore, you can report both the frozen section and touch prep when performed on the same specimen when they are done on separate sites.  

What are the requirements for reporting CPT 85060 for a Peripheral Blood Smear?

1. There should be a written laboratory policy, approved by the hospital, stating that when the WBC exceeds a certain threshold, a pathologist will review the slide and issue a written report.

2. In addition to the notation in the chart, generate a separate laboratory report for the medical record.

3. Both the chart notation and the report must be authenticated, that is, signed and dated.

Remember, Medicare will only pay for 85060 for hospital inpatients.  There is no modifier to add to receive payment for outpatient, nor can you report CPT code 80500 (Clinical           consultation code) instead of code 85060.