June 1996 page 10a
Coding Consultation
Medicine, Phlebotomy, 36400-36425 (Q&A)
Question
Is 99195 the correct code for a phlebotomy for obtaining blood specimens for lab studies?
AMA Comment
No, codes 36400-36425 are the codes for venipunctures (phlebotomy) for obtaining blood specimens. The most frequently used code is 36415, Routine venipuncture for finger/heel/ear stick for collection of specimen(s).
Code 99195 represents a therapeutic phlebotomy, often used in the treatment of Polycythemia Vera to reduce the hematocrit and red blood cell mass. Therapeutic phlebotomies are used in the treatment of other diseases as well.
Medicine, Phlebotomy, 36400-36425 (Q&A). CPT®...
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Note: The following article synopsis was NOT provided by the AMA. It was created by Find-A-Code/innoviHealth.
Article Overview
This article presents a coding question-and-answer from CPT Assistant about phlebotomy services and how they are discussed within the Medicine section of CPT. It is relevant to coding professionals who handle lab specimen collection, venipuncture, and related documentation review. The piece provides high-level clarification on the topic, identifies the applicable code range discussed, and distinguishes the general subject matter from therapeutic phlebotomy.
Why This Topic Matters
Accurate reporting of specimen collection and phlebotomy services affects coding consistency, claim accuracy, and correct alignment with CPT guidance. This article helps readers understand the scope of the discussion and whether the premium content is relevant to their coding questions.
Article Sections
June 1996 page 10a
Publication and page context for the coding consultation.
Coding Consultation
A question-and-answer format addressing a phlebotomy-related coding issue within CPT Assistant.
What You Will Learn
How the article frames a phlebotomy coding question within the Medicine section of CPT
What general type of service category the discussion addresses
How the article distinguishes routine specimen collection from therapeutic phlebotomy at a high level
What publication context and timeframe the consultation comes from
Who Should Read This
Professional medical coders
Coding auditors and compliance staff
Revenue cycle professionals
Practice managers
Clinical documentation improvement staff
Codes Discussed
CPT: 99195
CPT: 36415
Code Ranges Discussed
CPT: 36400-36425
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