Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Question: We perform a seven drug-class test by immunoassay (amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, cocaine metabolites, opiates, and phencyclidine) followed by a mass spectrometry/gas chromatography confirmation for any positives. How should we code this if we confirmation-test for two positives, but only confirm one positive? Connecticut Subscriber Answer: You should code for the work you perform, which is the same even if only one confirmation is positive.Code the drug screen: The correct code for the drug screen you describe is 80101 x 7 (Drug screen, qualitative; single drug class method [e.g., immunoassay, enzyme assay], each drug class). Because the definition states, "each drug class," you should report seven units of the code for the seven classes tested. Caution: If the payer is Medicare, you shouldn't report 80101 x 7. Instead, you should list a single unit of G0431 (Drug screen, qualitative; multiple drug classes by high complexity test method [e.g., immunoassay, [...]