Advanced Search

Revenue Cycle Insider

Path/Lab Coding:

Reporting Path Services Before a Definitive Diagnosis Is Available? Here’s How

Published on Wed Jun 10, 2026

You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.

Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:

Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
Instant access to every article ever published in Revenue Cycle Insider
6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs
The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more

Other Articles of

June 2026

Pulmonology Coding:
Know When to Report Thoracostomy vs. Thoracentesis Procedures
Explore the procedure differences and how to get the correct code every time. A patient [...]

Podiatry Coding:
Understand These 4 Stages to Report Gout Flawlessly
Don’t forget to look at the inclusion terms. According to the American Academy of [...]

Technology & Innovation in Healthcare:
Innovate Clinical Decision Making With AI
Question: Are industry leaders in artificial intelligence (AI) and healthcare teaming up to build AI [...]

Technology & Innovation in Healthcare:
Can You Disinfect a Catheter for Reuse? This Company Found a Way
Question: With the increasing costs of healthcare supplies, have companies developed products that can be [...]

Diagnostic Radiology Coding:
Realize the Risks of AI in Billing and How to Avoid Them
Remember to review records regardless of what created them. Artificial intelligence (AI) is being used [...]

Neurosurgery Coding:
Use This Advice to Master Intracranial Aneurysm Repair Coding
Know the factors that can make the surgery complex. Intracranial aneurysm repairs can be complex [...]

Orthopedic Coding:
Don’t Let Orthopedic Trauma Coding Break You
Use this practical guide to fractures, dislocations, and the associated injuries. The fractures, dislocations, and [...]

Pulmonology Coding:
What Makes Asthma ‘Uncomplicated’?
Question: A 35-year-old patient was referred to the pulmonology clinic due to their wheezing, shortness [...]

Pulmonology Coding:
Master How to Report Mediastinal Emphysema
Question: A 75-year-old patient presented to the pulmonologist with a chronic cough and unexplained weight [...]

E/M Coding:
Test Your MDM Identification With These Case Studies
See whether you can identify elements of MDM to level these encounter scenarios. Often, coders [...]

ICD-10-CM Coding:
Distinguish Active Kidney Stones From History of Stones
Question: Our nephrology office sees a 46-year-old established patient referred for recurrent kidney stones. The [...]

Podiatry Coding:
Verify the Correct Varus Deformity Code
Question: A 65-year-old patient presented to the podiatrist with the inside of their right foot [...]

Primary Care Coding:
Code This Thorny Encounter With Confidence
Question: An established adult patient presents with a painful puncture wound on the palm of [...]

Medicare Regulations:
Act Now to Comply With 2027 Electronic Prior Authorization Requirements
That was CMS’ recommendation in a recent communique. Do you know why? In May, the [...]

Podiatry Coding:
Move to the Head of the Class by Understanding Q Modifiers for Foot Care
Question: I’m new to podiatry coding and I was told I needed to append a [...]

Otolaryngology Coding:
Beware This Contradictory Advice for Glossectomy, Tracheostomy Bundling
Question: Is a planned tracheostomy bundled with a glossectomy, or can you bill it separately? [...]

Cardiology Coding:
Observe These Rules When Reporting Cardiac Catheterization With Moderate Sedation
Coding hinges on who’s providing which services. Cardiac catheterizations are very commonly billed with conscious [...]

Neurology & Pain Management Coding:
Signals Tell the Story When Coding Evoked Potential Studies
Remember to look for other services during these encounters. An evoked potential (EP) study asks [...]

General Surgery Coding:
Recognize the Keys to Coding Diagnostic VATS Procedures
Does the provider have to perform a biopsy? Find out. During a video-assisted thoracic surgery [...]

Gastroenterology Coding:
Get Comfortable Coding With AI in Your Gastro Practice
Understand how existing codes are being fused with new technology. As artificial intelligence (AI) continues [...]

E/M Coding:
For Chemical Peels, Lean on Documentation and Medical Necessity
Question: An established 16-year-old patient presents to an outpatient dermatology office for worsening nodulocystic acne [...]

Emergency Department Coding:
Eye These Codes for Ocular FBRs
Code for slit lamp use on some eye FBRs. The arrival of summer means people [...]

Pediatrics Coding:
Make Your Summer Coding Sparkle
Fireworks, though a Fourth of July tradition, are a major source of summer injuries. Summer [...]

Compliance:
Aim for Compliance Maintenance, at the Least
Striving for robust compliance can help keep money coming in. Compliance is a crucial current [...]

Anesthesia Coding:
Use This Advice to Code and Bill Qualifying Circumstances for Anesthesia
Remember: Qualifying circumstances codes are never a primary anesthesia code. Qualifying circumstances affect the ways [...]

Urology Coding:
Distinguish Screening From Diagnostic Testing to Avoid PSA Coding Errors
Remember: It all starts with the reason for the test. Although prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing [...]

General Coding:
Mash Through the Mental Block of Modifier 22
Understanding when not to use it is just as important. How can you determine if [...]

Diagnostic Radiology Coding:
How Many Structures Need to Be Visualized for a Complete Ultrasound?
Question: A 44-year-old patient presented to a radiology practice with an acute knee injury, sustained [...]

Orthopedic Coding:
Report a Shoulder Hemiarthroplasty Revision Correctly
Question: I have a surgical report where the orthopedic surgeon performed a shoulder hemiarthroplasty revision. [...]

Anesthesia Coding:
Multiple Anesthetists Involved? Try These Tips
Question: How do I bill a procedure that is started by one anesthesiologist, but finished [...]

Anesthesia Coding:
Distinguish Anesthesia Timing for These Two Concurrent Procedures
Question: An anesthesiologist participated in a breast reconstruction procedure after a patient underwent a prior [...]

Optometry/Ophthalmology Coding:
Avoid Miscoding This Gonioscopy Examination
Question: A 6-year-old established patient with primary congenital glaucoma presented to the ophthalmologist for a [...]

Path/Lab Coding:
Decide Between These Codes for TPMT Activity Testing
Question: A provider wants to begin azathioprine (AZA) therapy for a patient with rheumatoid arthritis [...]

Optometry/Ophthalmology Coding:
Use 92066 When a Vision Therapist Delivers Orthoptic Therapy
Question: I’m new to ophthalmology coding and I have a medical record for a patient [...]

Optometry/Ophthalmology Coding:
Know When to Bill E/M Services Versus Eye Exam Codes
Plus — find out if you can bill both codes on the same claim. Choosing [...]

Orthopedic Coding:
Does CTR Include Tenosynovium Biopsy? Find out
Question: I have an operative note for an open carpal tunnel procedure where the orthopedic [...]

Emergency Department Coding:
Check Physician Actions Before Coding Cyst Tx
Question: A patient reports to the emergency department (ED) with a pilonidal cyst. What surgical [...]

Otolaryngology Coding:
Code This Lesion Excision as a Biopsy
Question: Our otolaryngologist examined a patient and found a 2.8 cm white lesion with a [...]

Cardiology Coding:
Rely on Query for Clarity on Assessment vs. Diagnosis
Question: A patient presents to the cardiology office with palpitations, lightheadedness, and a racing heart. [...]

Technology & Innovation in Healthcare:
Learn What You Can — and Can’t — Code From Ambient AI Notes
Focus on the work performed, not the amount of documentation generated. Healthcare organizations are rapidly [...]

Compliance:
Turn Lesion Removal Red Flags Into Opportunities
Question: I’m conducting my first internal audit, on lesion removal procedures, and came upon the [...]

Gastroenterology Coding:
Code the Signs and Symptoms for Suspected Celiac Disease
Question: We are treating a patient who is experiencing persistent constipation, flatulence, and accumulation of gas. [...]

Oncology/Hematology Coding:
Get the Answers to All Your BI-RADS Coding Questions
Know which BI-RADS score prevents a first-listed diagnosis of Z12.31. When a radiologist sends a [...]

Neurology & Pain Management Coding:
Know When to Use Combination Code for Parkinson’s Dx
Question: Encounter notes indicate a patient is suffering from “Parkinsons w/dyskinesia/fluctuation.” How many ICD-10-CM codes [...]

In Case You Missed It (RCI Bonus Content):
Coding Peripheral Vascular Disease With Rutherford’s
Use this classification to improve the specificity of acute or chronic ischemia. Any time spent [...]

Urology Coding:
How Many Codes Are Needed for UTI, Hydronephrosis, and Kidney Stone Diagnoses?
Question: Our urologist diagnosed a patient with an acute urinary tract infection (UTI) and hydronephrosis [...]

Pediatric Coding:
Add Modifier 59 to Hear a Claim Approval
Question: What is the correct CPT® code for conducting hearing screenings on newborns? We’ve attempted using [...]

Diagnostic Radiology Coding:
Avoid S Codes for a Fracture That Has Already Healed
Question: An established patient presented for a global radiology follow-up office visit. The patient had [...]

Emergency Department Coding:
Consider Injury Type When Choosing These 2nd Characters
Question: When reporting a code from Chapter 19 of ICD-10-CM code book: Injury, Poisoning, and [...]

Oncology/Hematology Coding:
Use These Codes for Anemia Following Bariatric Surgery
Question: We have a patient seeing one of our oncologists with a diagnosis of iron [...]

Urology Coding:
Learn How to Code Diabetic CKD and Hypertensive CKD
Question: I have a medical record with type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and stage 3a [...]

Cardiology Coding:
Code Manifestation First for Drug-Induced Adverse Reaction
Question: An established patient with atrial fibrillation returns urgently to the cardiology office three days [...]

ICD-10-CM Coding:
Get Familiar With the 2027 ICD-10-CM Updates
With nearly 300 coding changes, you won’t want to miss this. Our team has scoured [...]

Medicare Regulations:
Make Sure Documentation Supports These 4 Criteria Before Billing Incident-to
Question: Our physician practice sees Medicare beneficiaries, and auxiliary staff sometimes furnish follow-up services. How [...]

Primary Care Coding:
Patients on GLP-1s? Clarify Coding, BMI Reporting Rules, and Payer Scrutiny
Here’s why assigning E66.9 when the doctor documents ‘BMI 32.1’ is incorrect. When you code [...]

Practice Management:
Don’t Write Off the Unpaid Bills of a Deceased Patient
Find tips for pursuing collections via other avenues. Many providers take the easy way out [...]

Path/Lab Coding:
Reporting Path Services Before a Definitive Diagnosis Is Available? Here’s How
Test your knowledge with 4 typical examples. Pathology reporting often unfolds over time. A specimen [...]

General Coding:
Time Is of the Essence When Billing +95941
Question: I understand that CPT® +95941 (Continuous intraoperative neurophysiology monitoring, from outside the operating room [...]

Medicare Regulations:
For Work-Related Injuries, Follow MSP Rules
Question: A Medicare beneficiary works part-time at a grocery store and slips while lifting a [...]

Neurosurgery Coding:
Dig Deeper for Cervical Arthrodesis Codes
Question: The surgeon performs arthrodesis via posterior technique on a patient with cervical osteomyelitis. How [...]

Oncology/Hematology Coding:
Know These Codes for Reporting Tumor Board Meeting
Question: Can I use 99358/+99359 to account for time when presenting a case for a [...]

Neurology & Pain Management Coding:
Look for Further Sequences/Sections When Coding CT and MRI
Question: What is the difference between a CT scan and an MRI? Tennessee Subscriber Answer: [...]

Ob-Gyn Coding:
Code Intrauterine Device Services Accurately
Know how to code for standard IUD services and high-risk scenarios. Assigning the correct codes [...]

Ob-Gyn Coding:
Should We Separately Report Antepartum Care From Multiple Providers?
Question: If multiple healthcare providers from the same ob-gyn practice saw a patient during the [...]

General Surgery Coding:
Analyze This Axillary Lymph Node Biopsy Case
Question: A patient presented to radiology for a superficial axillary lymph node core needle biopsy. [...]

E/M Coding:
Don’t Risk Upcoding in a Telehealth Scenario
Question: An established patient is seen by telehealth for follow-up of diabetes, hypertension, and chronic [...]

Primary Care Coding:
Don’t Rely on Wearable Alerts Alone for AFib Diagnosis
Question: An established patient presents for a follow-up for hyperlipidemia and mentions receiving two smartwatch [...]

Pediatric Coding:
Feel the Love for Tennis Elbow Coding
Question: The provider saw an established 13-year-old patient who was experiencing a sharp pain in their [...]

Neurosurgery Coding:
Get Specifics Before Coding This X-Ray
Question: The neurosurgeon performed a lumbosacral X-ray for a patient who had lumbar spina bifida. [...]

General Coding:
Choose Wisely Between Related POS and CPT® Codes
Question: We know how we should bill when a patient is taken out of their [...]

General Surgery Coding:
Know When to Report a ‘Separate Procedure’
Question: Our surgeon placed an anal seton to treat a fistula, and they also performed [...]

Otolaryngology Coding:
Denied by AI? Here’s How to Fight Back
Check out these 2 examples for future documentation improvements. You already know artificial intelligence (AI) [...]

Gastroenterology Coding:
Review This Post-Surgery Ulcer Scenario
Question: After a laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy, the patient returned a few weeks later complaining of abdominal pain. [...]

ICD-10-CM Coding:
Don’t Take Verbal Query Response as Part of Medical Record
Question: A patient presents for a regular appointment with the pulmonologist for a follow-up on [...]

Compliance:
Tread Carefully With Patient Images and Personal Devices
Question: A provider takes a clinical photo of a patient’s forearm rash on a personal [...]

Path/Lab Coding:
Mind This Modifier for Multiple Slide Submissions
Question: We have an in-house lab, and when we bill out 87210, we charge for [...]

Ob-Gyn Coding:
Recognize the Universal Rule for Sequencing Diagnosis Codes
Question: I read “Use This Advice for Dx Sequencing for a Viability Ultrasound in [...]

Practice Management:
Give Scheduling Staff Guidelines for Different Types of Visits
Question: What are tips for onboarding front-desk and scheduling staff regarding the differences between screening, [...]

Practice Management:
Consider A Business Case for Patient Navigator Program
Question: I would like to implement a patient navigation program, but leadership is worried about [...]

View All

Subscribe to newsletter