AMA CPT® Assistant - 2010 Issue 12 (December)
Pathology and Laboratory Changes in CPT 2011 (December 2010)
December 2010 pages 7-10 Pathology and Laboratory Changes in CPT 2011 For CPT® 2011, significant changes were made specific to the reporting of pathology and laboratory services. This article highlights the subsections within the CPT codebook affected by the changes, including the codes that were moved from the Pathology and Laboratory section to the Digestive System subsection. Drug Testing Qualitative assays (ie, tests that detect whether a particular analyte, constituent, or condition is present or absent) are reported with the drug testing codes. Qualitative screen analysis using a multiplexed screening kit for multiple drugs or drug classes is reported...
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Article Overview
This article reviews selected CPT 2011 changes affecting pathology and laboratory reporting. It is aimed at coders, billing staff, and other revenue cycle professionals who need a broad understanding of updated CPT structure, revised subsection placement, add-on code changes, and newly introduced reporting categories across laboratory medicine and pathology.
Why This Topic Matters
CPT revisions in pathology and laboratory services can affect how tests and procedures are reported, organized, and linked to related services in the codebook. Understanding these updates helps readers recognize where reporting changes occurred and which specialties and laboratory areas were affected.
Article Sections
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December 2010 pages 7-10
A brief publication header identifying the issue range for the article content.
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Drug Testing
Discussion of CPT 2011 updates related to qualitative and quantitative drug testing, including reporting categories and related laboratory methods.
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Chemistry
Coverage of chemistry subsection changes involving selected laboratory services, revised reporting structure, and add-on coding updates.
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Hematology and Coagulation
Review of changes in coagulation-related laboratory reporting and how selected neutralization procedures are distinguished in the codebook.
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Immunology
Overview of immune-related laboratory testing updates, including revisions tied to tuberculosis testing methodologies.
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Transfusion Medicine
Summary of changes in transfusion medicine reporting, including donor blood testing and related parenthetical guidance.
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Microbiology
Discussion of new and revised microbiology reporting options for molecular detection and genotyping services.
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Cytopathology
Explanation of updates affecting cytopathology reporting, including in situ hybridization and fine needle aspiration evaluation.
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Surgical Pathology
Coverage of surgical pathology revisions involving add-on reporting and retrieval of previously diagnosed tissue for molecular analysis.
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In Vivo (eg, Transcutaneous) Laboratory Procedures
Discussion of new guidance for in vivo laboratory services and the introduction of an unlisted reporting option for procedures not otherwise specified.
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Gastric Intubation and Aspiration Codes
Summary of code deletion and relocation for gastric and duodenal intubation and aspiration services within the CPT codebook.
What You Will Learn
- Which pathology and laboratory areas were affected by CPT 2011 updates
- How CPT 2011 changes were organized across laboratory and pathology subsections
- What categories of services received new, revised, deleted, or resequenced reporting options
- How the article frames changes in laboratory, cytopathology, surgical pathology, microbiology, and related areas
- Which organizations, codebook sections, and service categories are discussed in the update review
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Pathology billing staff
- Laboratory revenue cycle professionals
- Compliance teams
- Practice managers
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
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