parkerre23
New
Hello! I recently started a coding position at a genetic testing laboratory, primarily women's health, and was wondering if anyone had some guidance for me. My biggest question is: are we as coders allowed to code from the lab results? The ordering physician puts the requisition in, we run the labs, but then there's a hang up when it comes to diagnosis because the provider didn't choose the correct code or any code for that matter. Then we have to reach out to receive a diagnosis or an approved diagnosis from the physician. Since the labs are interpreted by the provider who works at the lab, are we able to code from those results without the ordering physician's interpretation?
Example: Provider orders a vaginal swab and attaches code N77.1 Vaginitis, vulvitis and vulvovaginitis in diseases classified elsewhere. This code requires another code to bill to insurance, usually a B code. Since the lab results are interpreted by the lab physician, can I pull the information such as "consistent with candidiasis" from the lab report or does the ordering physician need to review the results before I can code that out? Right now, we are only coding from what the ordering physician responds with but that can take a very long time. Just wondering if there's a shorter way to go about this.
Thank you for your help!
Example: Provider orders a vaginal swab and attaches code N77.1 Vaginitis, vulvitis and vulvovaginitis in diseases classified elsewhere. This code requires another code to bill to insurance, usually a B code. Since the lab results are interpreted by the lab physician, can I pull the information such as "consistent with candidiasis" from the lab report or does the ordering physician need to review the results before I can code that out? Right now, we are only coding from what the ordering physician responds with but that can take a very long time. Just wondering if there's a shorter way to go about this.
Thank you for your help!