| It’s not always possible to ignore Medicare’s | | | | can look ahead to an impact on billing for a wide |
| laboratory date-of-service (DOS) policy if you happen | | | | scope of tests. |
| to bill for the professional component (PC) of physician | | | | To get more insight on pathology coding and pathology |
| pathology services. | | | | coding updates, the best bet is attending conferences |
| DOS policy applies to clinical lab tests and the technical | | | | where you’ll get to know everything that you need |
| component of (TC) of physician pathology services no | | | | to know about this specialty. |
| doubt, but sometimes you have to follow the rules | | | | Highlighting the need for correct implementation of all |
| even if you’re billing for the PC. | | | | new 2010 codes and updates, such conferences help |
| The Medicare fee schedules guide you to an easy | | | | the attendees increase their coding know how and |
| way to remember which codes are subject to the | | | | thereby ensure proper reimbursement each time. |
| guidelines: | | | | In fact there’s a conference taking place in Orlando, |
| • Tests paid under the clinical laboratory fee | | | | FL this December which will have eight specialty |
| schedule (CLFS) | | | | tracks to choose from, with pathology being one of |
| • Pathology services listed with modifier TC on the | | | | them. |
| Medicare Physician Fee schedule (MPFS) though only | | | | So if you feel you need to upgrade yourself to the |
| when you’re billing the TC. | | | | next level and get to know the latest updates |
| What pathologists need to watch out for : Now that | | | | pertaining to pathology, attend one and see the world |
| the lab DOS policy applies to TC of pathology, you | | | | of difference it makes to your practice. |