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Pediatric Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Compare 2 Screening Codes

Published on Sun Sep 28, 2003

Question: Texas law requires my pediatrician to perform five metabolic screening tests on all newborns. Should I report CPT 84030 or S3620 for the service?

Texas Subscriber
 
Answer: You should use S3620 (Newborn metabolic screening panel, includes test kit, postage and the laboratory tests specified by the state for inclusion in this panel [e.g., galactose; hemoglobin, electrophoresis; hydroxyprogesterone, 17-d; phenylalanine [PKU]; and thyroxine, total), which includes the five metabolic screening tests that Texas state law requires your pediatrician to perform. The code also includes the specimen card and postage.

Prior to HCPCS's creation of S3620, Texas providers had to report 84030 (Phenylalanine [PKU], blood) for the newborn screen. But 84030 only covered the state lab charge for the PKU screen and not the other tests. Code S3620 more accurately reflects the screening panel.
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