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Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

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Can You 'Add Up' Large Arrays?

Published on Fri Jan 15, 2010

Question: Our lab performs a molecular diagnostics "array" test that involves more than 1,000 probes. Should we report multiple units of 88386 to account for the large number of probes? Ohio Subscriber Answer: You should not report multiple units of 88368 (Array based evaluation of multiple molecular probes; 251 through 500 probes) or any other array code to bill for a particularly large array. You may need to use an unlisted code, such as 88399 (Unlisted surgical pathology procedure) instead. CPT provides the following three codes for molecular diagnostics arrays: • 88384 -- Array based evaluation of multiple molecular probes; 11 through 50 probes • 88385 -- ... 51 through 250 probes • 88386 -- ... 251 through 500 probes. Not additive: Don't mistake the number ranges for "additional" probes -- if you do, you might erroneously list 88384 for the first 50 probes and 88385 for additional probes 51 through 250. Instead: Each [...]
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