Advanced Search

Primary Care Coding Alert

READER QUESTIONS:

Easy Steps to Bill for PPD Tests

Published on Mon Aug 24, 2009

Question: Is anyone billing an office visit (99211) with the PPD (TB test) code (86580)? Idaho Subscriber Answer: As there is no actual E/M done during administration of PPD, you shouldn't bill for this. When administering the PPD test, you use these codes: • V74.1 -- Special screening examination for bacterial and spirochetal diseases; pulmonary tuberculosis • 86580 -- Skin test; tuberculosis, intradermal. PPD testing results are read 48-72 hours after administering the skin test. This will require another office visit and evaluation of the results to determine whether it is negative or positive. Because a patient may not return for the reading, 86850's relative value units do not include the work of reading the test, according to Medicare. Therefore, when a nurse does the reading, some offices choose to report the service using this E/M code: • 99211 -- Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established [...]
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Primary Care Coding Alert

View All