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Gastroenterology Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Capture Simple Specimen Collections as Part of E/M Services

Published on Tue Jun 12, 2012

Question: Our gastroenterologist recently performed a Buccal Colaris genetic test for a patient with a prior family history of colon cancer. As this is the first time that our gastroenterologist used this test, I am not sure how to report the test he performed. Also, please tell me what diagnosis codes I should use to substantiate the medical necessity of the test that our gastroenterologist performed?North Carolina SubscriberAnswer: Buccal Colaris genetic test is a DNA sequencing analysis for MLH1, MSH2 and MSH6 genes and is sometimes used to test PSM2 gene also. For this test, a blood sample is drawn or an oral swab sample is attained which is then subject to the test for these specific genes.The way in which you will report the test will depend on what exactly was done by your gastroenterologist. If he was only involved in examining the patient and obtaining the sample, then [...]
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