Hello
dcasey4263,
It just really "depends on" is my answer here all day long.
I have worked for facility that requires permission to change anything, and I have also worked for facility that requires to just code it as pathology report presents itself.
Did the pathologist really review the codes being billed. Sometimes the pathologist doesn't accession the specimens and someone else does here (dropping an 88304 for an accession when at review by pathologist it was deemed a neoplastic process and not a cyst or lipoma or skin tag truly deserving an 88305 designation)??
Your questions, I do not know. You would need to help me to actually help you here please.
Yes, the pathologist will do special stains and immunohistochemical stains. Are you acclimated with how each one is identified and billed.
You last statement on "depending on diagnosis you could bill 88304 or 88305". Yes, you are absolutely correct. I always error on side of caution here.
Adipose tissue within the final diagnosis and a pathologist gives me 88305 is an immediate change to 88304 assignment.
Receipt of tissue for skin tag or cyst and it was actually something else such as D22.x, C44.x, or D04.x as suggestions would warrant an 88305 here versus 88304.