Advanced Search

Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Don't Create Electrolyte 'Panel'

Published on Mon Nov 05, 2012

Question: A physician orders blood electrolytes potassium, sodium, calcium, chloride, magnesium, and phosphate for a patient taking diuretic medication. Should we code one of the panels that includes many of these elements? Iowa Subscriber Answer: No, you should not report one of the organ and disease-oriented panel codes 80047-80076. None of the CPT® listed panels contains all and exclusively the blood tests requested by the physician. Regarding the panels, CPT® states, "These panels were developed for coding purposes only and should not be interpreted as clinical parameters." If the ordering physician requests a group of tests not identified by a panel code, based on the patient's specific clinical condition, you should code each ordered test. Report separate tests: You'll need to list the blood tests separately using the following codes: 84132 -- Potassium; serum, plasma or whole blood 84295 -- Sodium; serum, plasma or whole blood 82310 -- Calcium; total 82435 -- [...]
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 your eNewsletter
  • 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
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

View All