Date of Service on Professional Component of Diagnostic Testing Procedures

NGS has received many questions from providers regarding what date of service should be billed for the professional component, or interpretation, of a diagnostic testing procedure when that interpretation did not occur on the same day as the technical component. Specifically, providers have asked if they must bill the professional component on the date of service that the technical component was performed. NGS does not have a mandated policy on which date of service you are to bill in this situation. They recognize that providers do not always perform the professional component on the same date as the technical component. Many providers prefer to submit a claim with a date of service that reflects the day the professional component was performed, while others prefer to use the date of the technical component as the date of service for their professional component, as well. There is no policy from CMS that requires billing to be one way or the other. As a result, NGS will process claims for diagnostic testing procedures with a date of service that is reflective of the day in which either the professional component (i.e., interpretation) or the technical component of the diagnostic testing procedures was performed.

MAC J6 for Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota