Reference Labs

[djrumery]

For hospital outpatient claims, what is the proper way to code for lab services that are sent to a reference lab rather than performed on site? My thought processes tell me that in those situations that the hospital is not performing any service than as a draw station and would therefore really only be billing for the draw and transportation to the reference lab.

The hitch is that the facility and the stand alone reference lab are affiliated but do not have the same tax ID. Does that make a difference?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.