AMA CPT® Assistant - 1991 Issue 4 (Winter)
Pathology Coding Changes for CPT 1992 (Winter 1991)
Winter 1991 pages 18-20 Pathology Coding Changes for CPT 1992 CPT 1992 includes a surgical pathology coding revision that for codes 88300 - 88309 assigns pathology specimens to specific CPT codes. Specimen assignments are based on pathology specimen-to-code designations used by Harvard University in their recently completed study of physician service relative values. A reiterative consensus process was used to expand the Harvard assignments to more than 170 common pathology specimens. Previous editions of CPT required definition of such terms as "uncomplicated," "complex" and "anatomic site." These terms are no longer part of the coding nomenclature. Instead...
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Article Overview
This article explains the major pathology coding changes introduced for CPT 1992. It covers specimen-based surgical pathology reporting, additional pathology services, intraoperative consultations, referred-material consultations, Pap smear reporting, and specimen coding examples used to illustrate the updated framework. The piece is aimed at coders, pathology practices, and billing professionals who need to understand the scope of the revised CPT pathology section and how the new structure is organized.
Why This Topic Matters
Pathology reporting changed in a way that affects how services are categorized and counted for coding purposes. Understanding the updated structure helps readers determine whether the article applies to their pathology coding workflow and which CPT areas are discussed.
Article Sections
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Winter 1991 pages 18-20
Publication context for the article and its placement within the CPT Assistant issue.
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Pathology Coding Changes for CPT 1992
Overview of the CPT 1992 pathology coding revision and its specimen-based approach to surgical pathology reporting.
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Service Definition
General discussion of how pathology services are defined under the revised CPT structure and how specimens are treated as units of service.
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Additional Codes
Summary of the additional surgical pathology service code family and the types of services included in that group.
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Pathology Consultations During Surgery
Discussion of intraoperative pathology consultation reporting and the related terminology used for these services.
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Consultation on Referred Material
Coverage of consultation reporting for material referred from another source and the broader consultation code group.
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Pap Smears
Brief guidance on reporting Pap smear screening and interpretation services.
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Unlisted Specimens
Discussion of how specimens not specifically listed in the coding structure are approached at a high level.
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Specimen Coding Studies
A series of coding studies illustrating the revised pathology coding framework across different specimen scenarios.
What You Will Learn
- How CPT 1992 reorganized surgical pathology reporting around specimen-based code assignments
- What broad categories of pathology services are grouped within the updated CPT structure
- How intraoperative consultation and referred-material consultation sections fit into the pathology code family
- How the article uses specimen coding studies to illustrate the revised framework
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Pathology billing staff
- Compliance professionals
- Pathologists
- Revenue cycle professionals
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
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