Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

Question: Can we bill insurance companies for a blood draw in the office that will be sent to a lab? 

Ohio Subscriber

Answer:  You may report the appropriate code for the blood draw based on method. The nurse should document the method used for the draw so you may choose the appropriate code. For example, use 36415 (Collection of venous blood by venipuncture) if your nurse draws blood by venipuncture. Or if the nurse draws blood for testing from a PICC, submit 36592 (Collection of blood specimen using established central or peripheral catheter, venous, not otherwise specified).

Because you're sending the blood work to an outside laboratory, you also can report 99000 (Handling and/or conveyance of specimen for transfer from the physician's office to a laboratory). Some payers won't reimburse for the service, but your physician could consider negotiating payment for the code at contract time.