Pathology and Laboratory, 83718-83721 and 83715-83716, (Q&A) (October 1999)

October 1999 page 11 Coding Consultation Pathology and Laboratory, 83718-83721, 83715-83716 (Q&A) Question Can codes 83718 - 83721 be reported with codes 83715 - 83716 ? AMA Comment From a CPT coding perspective, although codes 83718 - 83721 are generally not performed together with 83715 - 83716 , there are circumstances under which this may be the case. One might perform direct measurement of a lipoprotein in addition to an electrophoresis determination to get all fractions. In this instance modifier -59 (Distinct procedural service) would be necessary to indicate that the procedures were distinct and independent from each other. Pathology...

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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 short CPT Assistant Q&A discusses pathology and laboratory coding guidance related to reporting selected CPT services together and the circumstances under which separate reporting may be considered. It is relevant to coders, billers, auditors, and compliance staff working with laboratory and pathology claims. The article centers on a narrow coding scenario and includes an AMA comment on how the guidance is framed.

Why This Topic Matters

Even brief coding advisories can affect claim reporting, edits, and compliance review for laboratory services. Understanding the article’s scope helps readers determine whether the guidance applies to a particular lab workflow or billing scenario.

Article Sections

  1. Coding Consultation

    Introduces a coding question about reporting selected pathology and laboratory services together. The section frames the CPT-focused discussion that follows.

  2. Question

    Presents the billing/coding question addressed by the article. It establishes the reporting scenario under review without providing a broader policy discussion.

  3. AMA Comment

    Summarizes the AMA’s CPT-oriented response to the question. The comment provides general guidance about when separate reporting may be relevant and references modifier use in that context.

What You Will Learn

  • The scope of the CPT question addressed in this pathology and laboratory Q&A.
  • How the article frames separate reporting considerations for selected laboratory services.
  • The general role of the AMA comment in clarifying the coding scenario.
  • The context in which a distinct-service modifier is discussed.

Who Should Read This

  • Medical coders
  • Coding auditors
  • Billing staff
  • Compliance professionals
  • Laboratory revenue cycle teams

Codes Discussed

Code Ranges Discussed

Modifiers Discussed


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