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Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Forget 'Pass' for FNA

Published on Mon Oct 10, 2011

Question: Our pathologist performed an adequacy check for two transbronchial FNA passes and identified the second pass as adequate for evaluation. The pathologist then performed the definitive FNA diagnosis for the specimen. How should we code?Maine SubscriberAnswer: The correct codes for fine needle aspiration (FNA) adequacy checks are 88172 (Cytopathology, evaluation of fine needle aspirate; immediate cytohistologic study to determine adequacy for diagnosis, first evaluation episode, each site) and +88177 (...immediate cytohistologic study to determine adequacy for diagnosis, each separate additional evaluation episode, same site [list separately in addition to code for primary procedure]). The code for the FNA diagnosis is 88173 (... interpretation and report). Because the "pass" is no longer the unit of service for FNA adequacy check, the answer to your question depends on some details that you don't provide. Specifically, you need to know the "evaluation episode," not the "pass" to determine proper coding for this [...]
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