AMA CPT® Assistant - 1999 Issue 7 (July)
Pathology and Laboratory, 88307 (Q&A) (July 1999)
July 1999 page 10d Coding Consultation Pathology and Laboratory, 88307 (Q&A) Question If the laboratory receives a specimen labeled "right breast" from a patient undergoing a simple mastectomy, and then 60 minutes later receives a second specimen from the same patient, labeled right breast (containing additional breast tissue), how should I report the examination of the second specimen? AMA Comment Based on the surgical pathology guidelines in CPT, a specimen is defined as tissue or tissues submitted for individual and separate attention , requiring individual examination and pathologic diagnosis. Two or more such specimens from the same patient are...
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Article Overview
This article is a short CPT coding consultation from AMA CPT Assistant focused on pathology and laboratory reporting for separately submitted specimens from the same patient. It explains the topic at a high level, highlights the surgical pathology context, and is intended for coders and billing professionals who need to understand the scope of the guidance before consulting the full article.
Why This Topic Matters
It helps readers determine whether the guidance applies to specimen-level pathology reporting situations and whether the article’s CPT surgical pathology discussion is relevant to their coding issue.
What You Will Learn
- How the article frames a pathology specimen reporting question in a surgical pathology setting.
- The general scope of guidance discussed for CPT-based pathology and laboratory coding.
- How the consultation is structured as a question-and-comment format.
- Who the article is intended to help in pathology coding workflows.
Who Should Read This
- Pathology coders
- Laboratory billing staff
- Medical coding professionals
- Compliance staff
Codes Discussed
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