Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert

In other news ...

• You'll have 18 lab codes that you'll be able to report as "CLIAwaived," thanks to an Aug. 21 CMS article on the matter.

According to MLN Matters article MM6570, CMS will now consider the additional tests CLIA-waived effective October 1. You'll have to append modifier QW (CLIA-waived test) to these codes, which include the following, among others:

• 82274 -- Jant Pharmacal Accutest immunological fecal occult blood test

• 84703 -- Siemens Clinitek status urine chemistry analyzer

• 82962 -- Roche Diagnostics Accutrend Plus System (fingerstick whole blood)

• 87804 -- EarlyDetect Pro influenza A test

• 80101 -- 1-Step Detect Associates DTX drug test cup integrated E-Z split key cup II

• 86318 -- Inverness Medical Signify H. pylori whole blood

• 87880 -- Inverness Medical Signify strep A cassette.

To read the full MLN Matters article, visit www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6570.pdf.