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Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

READER QUESTIONS:

More Specific Code Reports Cross Match

Published on Wed Aug 03, 2005

Question: When our pathologist consults on a blood cross match, should we report a clinical lab pathology consultation code?


Tennessee Subscriber
Answer: You should not use the pathology consultation code 80500 (Clinical pathology consultation; limited, without review of patient's history and medical records) or 80502 (... comprehensive, for a complex diagnostic problem, with review of patient's history and medical records) for a pathologist's cross match evaluation. Only use these codes when a physician requests that a pathologist consult on the results of specific clinical lab tests.

CPT provides a more specific code for the physician cross match service: 86077 (Blood bank physician services; difficult cross match and/or evaluation of irregular antibody[s], interpretation and written report). You should always use the most specific procedure code available to describe your pathologist's work.
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