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Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Reader Question:

V15.89 Justifies Pap Frequency

Published on Thu Jul 07, 2011

Question: Our lab performed a screening Pap test for a 35-year-old Medicare patient and reported abnormal findings (795.03, Papanicolaou smear of cervix with low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion [LGSIL]) in May 2010. She had a biopsy in June 2010 with a diagnosis of CIN I (622.11, Mild dysplasia of cervix), and a follow-up colposcopy in Dec. 2010, with a diagnosis of cervicitis (616.0, Cervicitis and endocervicitis). We received another Pap test for this patient in June 2011. How should we code this since it exceeds the two-year frequency for a screening Pap?South Dakota SubscriberAnswer: You should bill the patient's Pap smear as a screening test for high-risk patients. Medicare covers high risk Paps annually, instead of once every two years.Here's how: Instead of reporting screening Pap code V76.2 (Special screening for malignant neoplasms, cervix), you should report the Pap using V15.89 (Other specified personal history presenting hazards to health; other). [...]
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