AHA Coding Clinic® for HCPCS - 2017 Issue 2; For Your Information
New CPT codes for presumptive drug tests
Three new CPT codes were established by the American Medical Association for the reporting of presumptive drug testing. Prior to January 1, 2017, presumptive drug tests were reported with HCPCS codes G0477, G0478, and G0479. These HCPCS G codes were terminated on December 31, 2016, and replaced with the new CPT codes 80305, 80306, and 80307 which became effective on January 1, 2017. The new CPT codes are listed in the table below. HCPCS/CPT Long Descriptor Replacement Code G0477 Drug test(s), presumptive, any number of drug classes; any number of devices or procedures, (e.g., immunoassay) capable of being...
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Article Overview
This article covers a coding update for presumptive drug testing and explains the shift from legacy HCPCS reporting to CPT reporting beginning in 2017. It is relevant to coders, billing staff, compliance teams, and laboratory or clinical practices that report drug testing services, especially those tracking payer-facing code changes and replacement crosswalks. The article presents the code transition, effective dates, and a table of related identifiers to support accurate claims reporting.
Why This Topic Matters
Understanding this change helps organizations identify which code set applies to a presumptive drug test service for the relevant date of service and avoid use of retired reporting codes. It matters for claim accuracy, coding consistency, and maintaining compliance with updated AMA/CMS-related reporting conventions.
What You Will Learn
- How the reporting approach for presumptive drug testing changed over time
- Which code sets are involved in the transition
- What effective-date information is associated with the update
- How replacement crosswalk information is presented in the article
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Billing staff
- Compliance professionals
- Laboratory staff
- Physician practice administrators
Codes Discussed
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