Add to Cytometry Mailing List and Charge Code 88180 Question

From: rorlandi@inet.guthrie.org
Date: Fri Jan 15 1999 - 07:47:29 EST


Dear Dr. Kelley,

Allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Roger Orlandi and I started in
Flow Cytometry in Feb. 1998.  My background was 22 years in Hematology,
the las 17 as Supervisor.  I moved into Flow Cytometry when an unexpected
opening occurred just prior to the Hospital Laboratory and the next door
Clinic Laboratory consolidated.

Please subscribe me to your Cytometry Mailing List.  Also, would you ask
your members the following billing question.  The question is in a two
color panel of reagents using a marker more than one time with different
other markers, is it justifiable to charge for the marker a second time.
Example:  in this 4 tube panel of CD3/CD19, CD5/CD19, CD10/CD19, and
CD5/CD23 would this be correctly billed as CPT-88180 (X5) or would it be
understandable and justifiable to bill CPT-88180 (X8).  Being new to Flow
Cytometry and relatively a novice in billing practices, I think that the
significance of the co-expression of markers makes the (X8)
understandable, but whether it is correct (lawful) or not, neither my
Pathologist Director or other in-house billing people seem to have a
knowledgeble answer.  We have been currently billing the lower number of
markers to be on the safe side.

Any insite or information on acceptable billing practices in Flow
Cytometry would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

RSO

rorlandi@inet.guthrie.org



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