Hello,
I recently started a new job and I'm auditing my provider's billing for CPT: 80307 (presumptive drug screening). Sometimes the urine is contaminated and the lab cannot complete the drug screening. In my opinion, the whole point of billing 80307 is for the drug screening and if this cannot be done due to whatever reason, we cannot bill for that CPT. However, that is based on logical thinking, not concrete evidence. I reviewed laboratory billing guidelines in the CMS manual and other places as well, but I can't find anything that says you can or you cannot bill for a contaminated specimen for 80307. Like I said, my assumption is that this is not billable if the lab cannot complete the drug screening. I believe it's inappropriate to try to bill this as a reduced service as well. Your thoughts? If anyone has found a payer reference for this, please respond with the URL.
Thank you so much!
Angie Haney, CPC
I recently started a new job and I'm auditing my provider's billing for CPT: 80307 (presumptive drug screening). Sometimes the urine is contaminated and the lab cannot complete the drug screening. In my opinion, the whole point of billing 80307 is for the drug screening and if this cannot be done due to whatever reason, we cannot bill for that CPT. However, that is based on logical thinking, not concrete evidence. I reviewed laboratory billing guidelines in the CMS manual and other places as well, but I can't find anything that says you can or you cannot bill for a contaminated specimen for 80307. Like I said, my assumption is that this is not billable if the lab cannot complete the drug screening. I believe it's inappropriate to try to bill this as a reduced service as well. Your thoughts? If anyone has found a payer reference for this, please respond with the URL.
Thank you so much!
Angie Haney, CPC