Laboratory Question for the Week of January 11, 2021

By Bryan NordleyLaboratory
Laboratory Compliance Question of the Week

Question:

Regarding blood products, can we bill if the autologous unit was unused and subsequently destroyed?

Answer:

When an autologous unit is unused and is destroyed, the hospital may bill for the special processing and handling cost with code 86890. CMS states that the date of service must be the date on which it is known that the blood will not be transfused—typically, the date of discharge.

This question was answered in our Coding Essentials for Laboratories. For more hot topics relating to laboratory services, please visit our store or call us at 1.800.252.1578, ext. 2.

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