Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert

Physician Note:

CMS Grants 'CLIA-Waived' Status to 13 Additional Lab Tests

Published on Fri Feb 10, 2012

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Plus: One MAC recently corrected vaccination underpayments.

Part B practices will benefit from 13 additional tests now classified as "CLIA-waived," thanks to a Feb. 3 CMS transmittal on this topic.

According to Transmittal 2408, CMS will now consider the following tests CLIA-waived. You'll have to append modifier QW (CLIA-waived test) to these codes, which include the following, among others:

81003 (Urinalysis, by dip stick or tablet reagent for bilirubin, glucose, hemoglobin, ketones, leukocytes, nitrite, pH, protein, specific gravity, urobilinogen, any number of these constituents; automated, without microscopy) -- for Acon Mission U120 Urine Analyzer, BTNX Rapid Response U120 Urine Analyzer, and Immunostics Inc. Detector Uristrip+ Analyzer
82055 (Alcohol [ethanol]; any specimen except breath) -- for Teco Diagnostics Saliva Alcohol Test and Acon Laboratories Inc. Mission Saliva Alcohol Test Strip
86386 (Nuclear Matrix Protein 22 [NMP22], qualitative) for Alere NMP22 BladderChek Test (Prescription Home Use) and Alere NMP22 BladderChek Test

To read the complete CMS transmittal on the new CLIA-waived tests, visit the CMS Web site at www.cms.gov/transmittals/downloads/R2408CP.pdf

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