Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Question: I understand that Medicare has an expanded HIV screening policy for patients in a high risk group. What factors make a patient "high risk" under Medicare's rule?Illinois SubscriberAnswer: The HIV high risk group is eligible for one annual voluntary HIV screening. Medicare defines "high risk" as anyone with one of the following characteristics:Men who have had sex with men after 1975 Men and women having unprotected sex with multiple [more than one] partnersPast or present injection drug usersMen and women who exchange sex for money or drugs,or have sex partners who doIndividuals whose past or present sex partners were HIVinfected, bisexual, or injection drug usersPersons being treated for sexually transmitted diseasesPersons with a history of blood transfusion between 1978 and 1985Persons who request an HIV test despite reporting no individual risk factors, since this group is likely to include individuals not willing to disclose high-risk behaviors.Note that Medicare's expanded [...]