AMA CPT® Assistant - 2000 Issue 9 (September)
Surgical Pathology (September 2000)
September 2000 page 10c Coding Consultation Pathology, Surgical, 88300-88309 (Q&A) Question If two skin lesions are submitted together and are not separately identified, would this be reported as one or two specimens? AMA Comment The unit of service for the surgical pathology codes 88300-88309 is the specimen. A specimen is defined as tissue(s) that is (are) submitted for individual and separate attention, requiring individual examination and pathologic diagnosis. Therefore, when material received for pathologic examination comprises multiple specimens, each specimen is considered a single unit of service and should be reported using a single code. For example, if...
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Article Overview
This brief CPT coding consultation focuses on a surgical pathology reporting scenario involving skin lesions and the concept of specimen-based reporting. It is relevant to pathology coders, laboratory billing staff, and others who handle CPT surgical pathology services. The article explains the general topic of how specimen identification affects reporting within the CPT surgical pathology code range discussed in the question-and-answer format.
Why This Topic Matters
Surgical pathology reporting depends on accurate identification of what constitutes a specimen, so this guidance helps readers understand the topic area covered by the article and whether it matches their coding issue.
Article Sections
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Coding Consultation
A question-and-answer discussion about surgical pathology reporting in a specimen-based context. The section centers on a skin lesion submission scenario within the CPT surgical pathology family.
What You Will Learn
- How the article frames a surgical pathology specimen-reporting question
- What general subject area the guidance addresses within CPT surgical pathology
- Why specimen identification is a key topic in pathology coding consultations
- How the article is organized as a coding Q&A rather than a full-length guideline
Who Should Read This
- Pathology coders
- Medical coders
- Laboratory billing staff
- Revenue cycle staff
- Coding auditors
- Physician office coding staff
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
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