[Histonet] RE: NCCI policy update

[Lester Raff MD]

Below is the quote from the new NCCI guidelines that deal with this issue.  I am amazed that CAP and ASCP, have not been 1) notifying members and 2) disputing this change.

"The unit of service for immunohistochemistry (CPT codes 88342, 88360, 88361) is each antibody(s) stain (procedure) per specimen. If a single immunohistochemical stain (procedure) for one or more antibodies is performed on multiple blocks from a surgical specimen, multiple slides from a cytologic specimen, or multiple slides from a hematologic specimen, only one unit of service may be reported for each separate specimen. Physicians should not report more than one unit of service per specimen for an immunohistochemical antibody(s) stain (procedure) even if it contains multiple separately interpretable antibodies"

Lester J. Raff, MD
Laboratory Medical Director
UroPartners Laboratory
2225 Enterprise Dr Suite 2511
Westchester, IL 60154
Phone: 708.486.0076
Fax:  708.492.0203



-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu on behalf of Jesus Ellin
Sent: Fri 12/30/2011 4:18 PM
To: histotech <@t> imagesbyhopper.com
Cc: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Webb, Dorothy L
Subject: Re: [Histonet] RE: NCCI policy update
 
Don't you think we havea hand in this reporting out this CPT code so much,, I would expect this to be bundled here soon in a DRG for pathology services,, that's where it is headed.


Sent from my iPad

On Dec 30, 2011, at 2:22 PM, "histotech <@t> imagesbyhopper.com" <histotech <@t> imagesbyhopper.com> wrote:

> Wow.  What made them change their minds?  There are many times when we stain
> different blocks of a single specimen and only one lights up.
> 
> I, too, would be interested in an official document stating the change.
> 
> Thanks!
> Michelle
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Amber
> McKenzie
> Sent: Friday, December 30, 2011 3:07 PM
> To: Martha Ward-Pathology; Webb, Dorothy L;
> 'histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu'
> Subject: [Histonet] RE: NCCI policy update
> 
> Where can I get the article to show my billing dept/pathologists?
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Martha
> Ward-Pathology
> Sent: Friday, December 30, 2011 1:13 PM
> To: Webb, Dorothy L; 'histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu'
> Subject: [Histonet] RE: NCCI policy update
> 
> Oh yes, we are very aware and quite upset at the change!
> 
> 
> Martha Ward, MT (ASCP) QIHC
> Manager, Molecular Diagnostics Lab
> Dept. of Pathology
> Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center Winston-Salem, NC 27157
> 336-716-2104
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Webb,
> Dorothy L
> Sent: Friday, December 30, 2011 1:33 PM
> To: 'histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu'
> Subject: [Histonet] NCCI policy update
> 
> Is everyone aware that beginning 1/1/12, we can no longer bill for each
> block regarding IHC billing, only one unit of billing for each part type no
> matter how many blocks are stained?  Also IHC "cocktail" stains, such as
> PIN4 must now be billed as one unit even though multiple antibodies are
> reported out.
> 
> Kind of a surprising reversal of the policy set in motion 10/1/2009.
> SPECIMEN becomes the unit of service rather than block(s) for IHC codes
> 88342, 88360, and 88361.
> 
> Happy New Year to everyone out there.  May 2012 find you happiness and
> health!
> 
> Dorothy Webb, HT
> Regions Histology TS
> 651-254-2962
> 
> 
> 
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