Laboratory Fees Reduced in 2015

While a quarter of a percent reduction in laboratory fees in 2015 doesn’t sound like much, when spread over thousands of tests it can have a meaningful impact on a laboratory’s bottom line. CMS transmittal R3152CP, explains how CMS came to the -0.25 percent update to the clinical laboratory fee schedule (CLFS) and includes other information for more specialized test services such as those paid on a reasonable charge basis. Laboratories doing drug testing will have to pay particular attention to the changes in CPT codes for that testing. The AMA CPT Editorial Panel made significant changes to the entire set of codes used for drug testing but CMS decided it needed more time to review the changes before pricing the new test codes. CMS developed temporary “G” codes for tests deleted by the editorial panel. CMS is concerned that the changes will result in overpayments, particularly when each individual drug tested is billed rather than one code billed regardless of how many drugs are tested.

Source: https://www.floridablue.com/