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Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Don't Expect Pay for Routine HPV With Pap

Published on Fri Jan 15, 2010

Question: Our lab has a client physician who orders a human papillomavirus test with every Pap smear. Is HPV part of a screening Pap, or can we separately report the HPV test with the Pap test? What ICD-9 code should we use? Maryland Subscriber Answer: A human papillomavirus (HPV) test is not part of the screening Pap smear. Although both tests can screen for cervical cancer, the HPV test checks only genetic evidence for the presence of HPV, while the Pap test looks for abnormal changes to cervical cells. Current clinical recommendations don't include routinely performing an HPV test together with the Pap smear. In addition, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concludes that the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against the routine use of HPV testing as a primary screening test for cervical cancer. The agency found poor evidence to determine the benefits and potential [...]
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