Question

question 21

mr. bowen is having a pre-employment physical (screening). his doctor ordered the following serum blood tests: cbc, automated, automated differential wbc, comprehensive metabolic panel and a thyroid stimulating hormone (tsh) assay. code the services for these labs.

80053, 84443
80050-26
80048
80050

Explanation:

Analyze the ordered laboratory tests

The physician ordered the following serum blood tests:

• CBC, automated and automated differential WBC (CPT 85025)
• Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP, CPT 80053)
• Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) assay (CPT 84443)

Evaluate CPT panel coding guidelines

According to CPT guidelines for Organ or Disease-Oriented Panels:

• CPT code 80050 represents a General Health Panel.
• The General Health Panel (80050) specifically comprises:

1. Comprehensive metabolic panel (80053)
2. Blood count (CBC, automated and automated differential WBC count: 85025 or 85027 and 85048)
3. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) (84443)

Determine the correct code selection

Since all components of the General Health Panel (80050) are performed, the individual codes (80053, 85025, 84443) must be bundled and reported with the single panel code 80050 to prevent unbundling.

Answer:

• 80053, 84443
• 80050-26
• 80048
• 80050 (Correct answer)