AMA CPT® Assistant - 2000 Issue 10 (October)
Pathology and Laboratory (October 2000)
October 2000 page 7b Coding Consultation Pathology and Laboratory, 88321, 88323, 84999 (Q&A) Question Should codes 88321 and 88323 be reported once per batch of slides received or material provided, or by the number of actual specimens provided? Or should the code be reported only once no matter how many slides are provided or amount of referred material that must be prepared? AMA Comment From a CPT coding perspective, codes 88321 , Consultation and report of referred slides prepared elsewhere, and 88323 , Consultation and report on referred material requiring preparation of slides, should be reported per surgical case. For...
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Article Overview
This October 2000 CPT Assistant Q&A covers selected pathology and laboratory coding questions. It is relevant to coders, billers, and compliance staff who work with consultation services and laboratory testing guidance, and it provides general discussion of reporting considerations and code selection within CPT.
Why This Topic Matters
The article helps readers understand how CPT guidance applies to pathology consultation reporting and certain laboratory testing situations. It is useful for evaluating whether a given service falls within the article’s scope and for locating the specific codes discussed.
Article Sections
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Coding Consultation
Discussion of pathology consultation reporting questions related to referred slides and referred material in the pathology and laboratory setting.
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Pathology and Laboratory
Discussion of laboratory testing questions involving selected elemental analyses and the handling of tests without specific codes.
What You Will Learn
- How this Q&A article frames pathology and laboratory coding issues
- What topics are covered in the consultation reporting discussion
- What topics are covered in the laboratory testing discussion
- How the article is organized around CPT Assistant questions and responses
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Billing staff
- Compliance professionals
- Pathology practice staff
- Laboratory billing personnel
Codes Discussed
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