Home Forums Discussions Coding and Billing Phlebotomy codes

Is anyone doing just blood draws in their office and sending the blood out with a service( such as local hospital or lab that picks it up and runs the blood test?) what are you coding? are you getting reimbursed for it?


Ketan

Our office draws blood to send out. Procedure code is 36415 (Specimen Collection Fee). We collect about $2.33 in our area.

Same as John, I do the blood draws consider it a 'free' community service only benefit is the auto results download into AC with interface fee paid by Quest.

We do the code above, and Blue Cross pays about 30 bucks for it. We draw and send to Quest. We can also send them to a Quest draw station where the fee is $5.

Was that $3 or $30?

Greg

Like I said.

No drawing fees allowed in NJ, not in office or at lab. Rules issued by insurance companies about 10 yrs ago.

I always wonder how they can dictate that! Well, because doctors agreed to it. When you sign your agreement with them, you agreed to not charge the patient for this, even though you have to pay for phlebotomy in one way or another. Doctors have shot themselves in the foot in more ways than I can count.

30?! Wow.. we use the same code, 36415 and 99000... paymnet varies, but we are talking a few dollars average.
It is a wonderful feature to have the labs download straight into Amazing Charts.

Once you start signing PPO agreements it is a quick downhill slide into slavery to the insurance companies. This has gotten to the point of primary care physicians being driven out of business in many areas.

I usually get paid 3-5 dollars for a nurse draw. There is a code for the doctor drawing the blood and I get 10-20 for that. If they are a really hard stick I'll get the ultrasound machine out and get about 30-40.

We are located in NJ but in a very rural area. Medicare reimburses $3. The other insurance companies want all the patients to go to the actual drawing station (LabCorp/Quest). As a convience for the patients, we will collect blood work in the office but charge $15 flat fee for all NON-MEDICARE patients. We have posted notices in the office. The patients are given the option. It has worked very well for several years now. No complaints from the patients. I have been told they would rather pay the $15 then to wait on line at the draw stations.