Read the following scenarios. Code them with codes from pathology and laboratory CPT section. Provide rationale for your code selection for each case. You will be able to see other's posts after you have submitted yours. Come back by the end of the week and check out the instructor post for correct coding and rationale. Analyze your codes to see if you got any of them wrong. Why do you think you did not get the correct code(s). For example; was it code specificity or guidelines for coding that you missed? If you have them all correct then congratulations! You will make a good path-lab coder.
Case 1:
Dr. A performs a lipid panel using automated equipment in his office. The battery of tests he provides includes high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and quantitative glucose. What code(s) should be reported for these tests?
Case 2:
Dr. B performs a metabolic panel using automated equipment in her office. She includes the following in her battery of tests: serum carbon dioxide, chloride, creatinine, glucose, potassium, sodium, and blood urea nitrogen. What code(s) should be reported for these tests?
Case 3:
A basal cell carcinoma is removed from the patient’s forehead and submitted for frozen section. A frozen section on one area is performed. The margin on one side is not adequate, so the surgeon resects more tissue from the same wound and submits this specimen for frozen section. One frozen section is performed on this specimen. What code(s) should be reported for these tests?