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Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Reader Question:

88342 Units Can Vary

Published on Mon Nov 08, 2010

Question: I'm confused about whether I can code 88342 per block of per specimen -- which is correct?Answer: The answer may depend on the payer. Until Oct. 2009, payers agreed that the unit of service for a single immunostain (88342, Immunochemistry [including tissue immunoperoxidase], each antibody) was the specimen. In other words, regardless of the number of slides, levels, or blocks from a single specimen, you should code 88342 only once for a specific stain such as estrogen receptor (ER).CCI game changer: In a departure from common coding practice, the Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) Policy Manual version 15.3, effective Oct. 1, 2009 states, "If it is medically reasonable and necessary to perform the same stain on more than one specimen or more than one block of tissue from the same specimen, additional units of service may be reported for the additional specimen(s) or block(s)."The manual goes on to clarify that if [...]
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