Laboratory Guideline Policy - CAM 235

Policy
To be considered for reimbursement, all outpatient laboratory claims should be submitted in accordance with: 

  • AMA CPT and HCPCS coding and ICD-10 diagnosis coding guidelines.
  • Other laboratory and pathology coding guidelines.
  • All applicable regulatory guidelines.

This policy outlines additional requirements beyond the guidelines listed above that are required for reimbursement. Note that these guidelines are reviewed and updated periodically.

Technical, Professional, and Global services (-TC, -26 modifiers)

  • Before using the -26 or -TC modifiers, verify that these modifiers are allowable with the procedure code.
  • Do not append these modifiers to the procedure code when performing the global service.

Tests Performed by a Reference Laboratory

  • When performed by a party other than the treating physician, reporting physician, or other qualified health care professional, the laboratory procedure must be identified by adding modifier -90 to the claim line.
  • Only independent clinical laboratories may append modifier -90 to indicate that the service was referred to an outside laboratory.

Repeat Testing

  • While treating a patient, it may be necessary to repeat the same laboratory test on the same day to obtain subsequent (multiple) test results. Under these circumstances, the laboratory test performed can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier -91. 
  • When a normal, one-time, reportable result is all that is required, modifier -91 may not be used if tests are rerun to confirm initial results, due to testing problems with specimens or equipment, or for any other reason. 
  • When other code(s) describe a series of test results (e.g., glucose tolerance tests, evocative/suppression testing), modifier -91 may not be used. 

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Waived Testing

  • Laboratory tests which are CLIA-waived must have the QW modifier appended to the procedure code.

In accordance with S611b of OBRA of 1989, a referring lab can bill for tests performed by a reference lab only if it meets one of the following exceptions:

  • The referring laboratory is in or is part of a rural hospital.
  • The referring lab and the reference lab are 'subsidiary related.' That is:
    • The referring lab is a wholly owned subsidiary of the reference lab
    • The referring lab wholly owns the reference lab
    • Both the referring lab and reference lab are wholly owned subsidiaries of the same entity.

Genetic Counseling Considerations
Reimbursement of genetic counseling is outside the scope of Avalon policies. However, reimbursement of some genetic testing may be dependent on genetic counseling having been performed: any genetic counseling provided will be considered during review of a health plan laboratory policy where genetic counseling is a required component. Genetic counseling documentation consists of written documentation of the counseling elements provided to the member. 

General expectations that should be documented with genetic counseling include explanation of the following: the testing process, what the tests can and cannot do, and how well the tests work. Furthermore, discussion should include what different results mean to the tested individual, including discussing how knowing the test results may affect the individual’s emotions and mental health, as well as how knowing the results may affect the individual’s family. Additionally, diagnostic and treatment options based on results should be discussed. Ideally, when a multigenerational family history is available, this history should be documented and summarized.

Non-Reimbursable CPT/HCPCS Codes
Some procedure codes will not be reimbursed due to their expiration or replacement with more appropriate codes.

  • AMA drug assay codes 80320 to 80377 are not accepted and will not be reimbursed. Refer to policy T2015, Opioids Testing in Pain Management and Substance Abuse, for guidelines for submitting G0480 to G0483.
  • Unlisted codes (81479, 81599, 84999) will not be accepted if a specific Tier 1, Tier 2, GSP, MAAA, or Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA) code exists.
  • PLA codes will not be reimbursed unless a laboratory policy specifically covers the PLA code.

Panel Reimbursement
Genes can be assayed serially or in parallel. Parallel sequencing is when all of the requested genes are assayed on the same date of service with no consideration for the results of another gene assayed during the process. When two or more genes are assayed in parallel using next generation sequencing, then those two or more genes are considered part of the same panel (consistent with NCCI manual Chapter 10, Section F, number 8). Reimbursement for genetic panel testing is as follows:

  • If a procedure code is available for the multi-gene panel test, then this code is to be utilized (i.e., 81442 Noonan spectrum disorders genomic sequence analysis panel).
  • Multi-gene panels must contain the genes specified in the AMA CPT coding description.
  • If there is not a specific next generation sequencing (NGS) procedure code that represents the requested test, a maximum of ONE unit of 81479 [unlisted molecular pathology procedure] may be billed.
  • ALL gene tests in the panel must be listed on the request and rationale for the clinical utility for the gene test must come from the ordering provider.
  • If incorrect codes are submitted to represent panel testing, ALL codes submitted will be denied as not medically necessary due to incorrect coding process.
  • Concurrent ordering of multi-gene panel tests for a specific condition is strictly prohibited; only one multi-gene panel test may be ordered at a time for a specific condition.

Edit Types
Outpatient lab claims are consistently evaluated for reimbursement against several standard edit types using administrative information (e.g., claim information, historical claims). The specific edits are described below.

Additional Tests on the Date of Service
The presence or absence of additional tests on a single date of service (DOS) may trigger a reimbursement denial for a claim line. 

The exclusivity edit is based upon:

  • A list of tests where Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) and/or AMA coding guidance identify that two procedure codes for the test are not permitted for the same patient at the same time because it is only appropriate to charge for one of those procedures.
  • Clinical guidelines for testing preclude the simultaneous performing of two tests. For example, individual components of panel procedures codes will not be separately reimbursed when billed with the panel procedure code.
  • Technically complex procedures which incorporate simple procedures will not be reimbursed for the same patient on the same DOS. For example, billing for multiple testing methodologies (e.g., direct, amplification, and quantitative testing) for the same microorganism codes is not reimbursed.

Thus, a denial based upon this edit is one that is based upon evaluation of universal, objective criteria related to how the test is being billed, not an assessment of a patient’s condition to determine whether both codes were appropriate.

Incorrect Diagnosis Code
Select diagnosis and procedure code combinations are permitted or precluded depending on the nature of the policy. 

The edit functions to identify those tests that are never appropriate unless the physician has first concluded that the patient presents with the indicated diagnosis. Although the edit is contingent upon the diagnosis of the individual patient, it is not conducting any clinical evaluation of whether the condition, in fact, exists. Rather, the inherent nature of the test (only being indicated for patients with the condition or contraindicated for the condition) and the question of whether the prerequisite condition is present are the conditions for reimbursement.

Incorrect Patient Age
This edit addresses medical policies with coverage criteria, CPT/HCPCS codes, and diagnosis codes that not are reimbursable based on the patient’s age on the DOS. 
For example, testing on newborns must be associated with a member who is 28 days of age or younger. 

Incorrect Place of Service 
This edit is invoked when the Place of Service is identified as inappropriate with the laboratory test/service performed submitted on the claim. 

Once-per-Lifetime Tests
This edit limits the frequency of applicable laboratory services/procedure codes to once in the patient’s lifetime. 

Certain laboratory services should only be performed once in a patient’s lifetime as outlined in medical policy. If a once-per-lifetime test is submitted for reimbursement more than once, the subsequent submissions will not be reimbursed.

Unit Threshold Met (Daily and Historical)
These edits are invoked when the number of units billed for the procedure on a single DOS or over a period of time exceed an allowed reimbursement quantity without considering any aspect of an individual’s specific condition. Maximum units of service are determined by one or more of the following: 

  • The CPT or HCPCS code description defines the number of units per patient per DOS for a unique billing event.
  • Laboratory Coverage Guidelines outlined in medical policy establish the number of units for a laboratory service.
  • The service is anatomically or clinically limited to the number of procedures that may be performed and therefore units billed.
  • Scientific or statistical analyses demonstrate a reasonable limitation of the number of units that should be performed within a specified period of time.
  • Third-parties such as Correct Coding Initiative or Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services limit reimbursement to a specified number of units.

If a procedure code that is assigned a maximum unit value is reported with a greater unit count, the claim line will be reimbursed only for the number of units up to but not exceeding the allowed maximum.

References

  1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, “Medically Unlikely Edits” https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/NationalCorrectCodInitEd/MUE.html 
  2. American Medical Association, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®), Professional Edition
  3. https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/clm104c16.pdf
  4. CMS Pub. 100-04, chapter 16, section 40.1.1 external link (PDF, 497 KB)
  5. https://www.cms.gov/files/document/medicaid-ncci-policy-manual-2022-chapter-10.pdf  

Coding Section

Code  Number Description
  0450U  (effective 07/01/2024) Oncology (multiple myeloma), liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), monoclonal paraprotein sequencing analysis, serum, results reported as baseline presence or absence of detectable clonotypic peptides
  0451U (effective 07/01/2024) Oncology (multiple myeloma), LC-MS/MS, peptide ion quantification, serum, results compared with baseline to determine monoclonal paraprotein abundance
  0457U (effective 07/01/2024) Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) (eg, perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid), 9 PFAS compounds by LC-MS/MS, plasma or serum, quantitative
  0458U (effective 07/01/2024) Oncology (breast cancer), S100A8 and S100A9, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), tear fluid with age, algorithm reported as a risk score
  0472U (effective 07/01/2024) Carbonic anhydrase VI (CA VI), parotid specific/secretory protein (PSP) and salivary protein (SP1) IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), semiqualitative, blood, reported as predictive evidence of early Sjögren’s syndrome
CPT 0482U (effective 10/01/2024) Obstetrics (preeclampsia), biochemical assay of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) and placental growth factor (PlGF), serum, ratio reported for sFlt-1/PlGF, with risk of progression for preeclampsia with severe features within 2 weeks
  0483U (effective 10/01/2024) Infectious disease (Neisseria gonorrhoeae), sensitivity, ciprofloxacin resistance (gyrA S91F point mutation), oral, rectal, or vaginal swab, algorithm reported as probability of fluoroquinolone resistance
  0484U (effective 10/01/2024) Infectious disease (Mycoplasma genitalium), macrolide sensitivity (23S rRNA point mutation), oral, rectal, or vaginal swab, algorithm reported as probability of macrolide resistance
  0486U (effective 10/01/2024) Oncology (pan-solid tumor), next-generation sequencing analysis of tumor methylation markers present in cell-free circulating tumor DNA, algorithm reported as quantitative measurement of methylation as a correlate of tumor fraction
  0510U (effective 10/01/2024) Oncology (pancreatic cancer), augmentative algorithmic analysis of 16 genes from previously sequenced RNA wholetranscriptome data, reported as probability of predicted molecular subtype
  0511U (effective 10/01/2024) Oncology (solid tumor), tumor cell culture in 3D microenvironment, 36 or more drug panel, reported as tumor-response prediction for each drug

This medical policy was developed through consideration of peer-reviewed medical literature generally recognized by the relevant medical community, U.S. FDA approval status, nationally accepted standards of medical practice and accepted standards of medical practice in this community and other nonaffiliated technology evaluation centers, reference to federal regulations, other plan medical policies, and accredited national guidelines.

"Current Procedural Terminology © American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved"

History From 2019 Forward     

09/16/2024 Updated CPT coding. Added codes 0450U, 0451U, 0457U, 0458U and 00472U (effective 07/01/2024). No change in policy intent.
09/05/2024 Updated CPT coding. Added codes 0482U, 0483U, 0484U, 0486U, 0510U and 0511U (effective 10/01/2024). No change in policy intent.
08/01/2024 Annual review, updated the entire policy.
05/01/2024 Annual review moved to January 2025. No other changes.
01/11/2024 Added code 0431U effective 01/01/2024
01/09/2024 Annual review moved to April 2024. No other changes.
09/11/2023 Updating coding section. Adding CPT code 0407U and 0418U effective on 10/01/2023. No other changes made.
06/14/2023 Added coding ‘0389U, 0390U, 0393U, 0394U’ effective 07/01/2023
04/10/2023 Corrected review date from 04/01/2023 to 12/01/2023 to coincide with Avalon review.
01/30/2023 Change annual review date to coincide with Avalon. No changes made.
06/15/2022 Added code 0331U

10/01/2021 

Annual review, no change to policy intent. 

03/01/2021 

Interim review to correct typographical error. 

10/02/2020 

Annual review, no change to policy intent. 

07/01/2020 

Interim review to add statement regarding genetic counseling. 

01//01/2020

New Policy

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