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Primary Care Coding Alert

Stop Assuming 99000 Is Just for Messenger Fee

Published on Fri Apr 24, 2009

The AMA changed its mind -- and you should change your policy. If you reserve 99000 for incurring charges, you need a primer on the code's musts to collect this fee from private payers. -I am under the impression that the code can only be used if you collect the specimen then send it to an outside lab,- says Jamie Kurrasch, CPC, with Primary Care Partners, PC in Junction City, Colo. She's looking for a code her lab can use for the specimen collection for the flu and RSV test that the practice runs at its in-house lab. Check out these 99000 guidelines. Capture Specimen Prep With 99000
 
You can report 99000 (Handling and/or conveyance of specimen for transfer from the physician's office to a laboratory) -for the preparation of a specimen for lab transport, even when there is no cost incurred with the labs charging for pick up and transport of [...]
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