Blood test codes?

[specialdelivery]

I would like my husband to have his blood tested for Rh factor (because I'm Rh-). My midwife (CNM) wrote and order, but we can't seem to find an appropriate code to put on the order. Any ideas/suggestions? TIA!

[Midwife Kris]

What do you mean by codes? Every lab has their own coding for the tests they run. You can always call the lab you plan on using and ask them.

[BeckiCNM]

I'm thinking that the last time we did that, we used 656.13, which is rhesus isoimmunization complicating pregnancy. I know that he's not the one that's pregnant, but it worked. Try that one.

[specialdelivery]

I'm sorry I wasn't very clear. We are looking for a code to put on the order so his insurance will be most likely to cover the charge.
Did insurance cover the cost of his labs when you coded it as pregancy related?
Thanks for all your help!

[pamamidwife]

I use the newborn exam code. It's the baby's blood -

Here is what a midwife (that is knowledgeable about insurance coding) told me:

You can just use the well-baby newborn exam code (used for the 1st month of life for routine, well baby exams ) of V30.2. There is no need to use the Rhesus incompatablity codes because you don't know if there is an incompatability yet....so it is just a well baby routine test. You can also reflex the lab to a direct Coombs (antibody screen) under the same diagnosis if the baby is RH positive and the mom didn't have an antepartum RhoGAM.

When you bill the insurance, don't forget to also submit a claim for specimin drawing and handling (99000) under the same diagnostic code to be reimbursed for your extra lab trip!

[momileigh]

The good news is that I believe that test costs no more than $10. And if he would go to donate blood, they would do it for free. I don't know why you would use a code for a newborn to test your husband's blood. I wouldn't want to get in trouble for insurance fraud over a $6 blood test.

[pamamidwife]

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[pamamidwife]

Yeah I blew that, thinking she was asking about newborn typing.

You cannot bill for a partners blood typing under pregnancy codes.

[momileigh]

I *thought* there might have been a misunderstanding there.

[BeckiCNM]

Well, my office manager says that we've successfully billed with the pregnancy code.

However, we found this in a new code update:

Blood typing. V72.86, encounter for blood typing, now can be used to report testing of the father when the mother is Rh-negative. This information allows physicians to determine the risk of Rh sensitization in the fetus and decide whether immunoglobulin administration is necessary to prevent it during the remainder of the pregnancy.

So try V72.86 for the code.

[specialdelivery]

Thank you all so much for your help! I'm sending him to the lab tomorrow.