CPT 2011: Drug Test Changes yet Again

Two new codes were proposed for urine drug testing in 2011 and you might need some help to sorting it out.

CPT 2011, CPT code, medical coding

This time two new codes were proposed for urine drug testing in the year 2011 and you might need some help sorting it out. Read on and get a preview of the 2011 codes and a run down of how current policy meshes with your lab's drug screen test method.
2011 codes close loopholes

CMS provided a low down on new lab test codes for CY 2011. You will need to be familiar with the following two new codes for drug testing next year.

801XX

GXXX1 With identical definitions, 801XX will replace G0430, which was new in 2010.

Problem: Apparently, CMS intends new code GXXX1 to close a loophole in how labs use another code introduced this year.

Loophole closed: By making the unit of service the 'specimen' for GXXX1, labs can only list multiple units if the patient provides multiple urine specimens. The 'per specimen' wording should essentially prevent labs from billing GXXX1 for each drug class dipstick as they could for G0431.

Follow current drug screen rules

Until new codes go into effect in 2011, you will need to continue to report drug screening tests using G0430 and G0431 along with the following codes: 80100, 80101.

CMS came up with the two G codes this year to operate in place of and alongwith existing CPT code 80100 and 80101 as some providers were not using those codes correctly.