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Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

CPT® 2012 Cytology:

88107: You Won't Miss the Missing Code

Published on Fri May 04, 2012

4 tips simplify your non-gyn cytology coding.Just remember four specific rules about coding non-gynecological (non-gyn) cytology specimens and you won't miss the code that CPT® 2012 deleted: 88107 (Cytopathology, fluids, washings or brushings, except cervical or vaginal; smears and simple filter preparation with interpretation).To see why you shouldn't expect to lose much pay this year due to the code deletion, make sure you're reporting the remaining non-gyn cytology codes correctly based on the following four tips.Tip 1: Know the Specimen SourceNon-gyn cytopathology conventionally refers to cytology specimens that are not cervical or vaginal smears (Pap tests) and are not fine needle aspiration (FNA) specimens.In other words, non-gyn cytology specimens include washings (such as bladder), brushings (such as bronchial), body fluids (such as urine) and body-fluid aspirates (such as cyst, pleural, spinal, peritoneal), and "other source" (such as sputum, nipple discharge, and touch preps). If you're dealing with any of these [...]
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