Urine Drug Screening Update
August 25, 2016N.C. Division of Medical Assistance (DMA) is in the process of updating NCTracks to add the new HCPCS urine drug screening codes. The system changes are still in development; however, in an effort to avoid further financial hardship to their providers, DMA implemented the rates into the system. Claims previously submitted have been released and will begin to pay beginning with the June 14, 2016, checkwrite. Providers may bill with CPT codes 80300-80377 through the end of June 2016. Beginning with dates of service July 1, 2016, providers will need to select the most appropriate HCPCS code for the service rendered as these CPT codes will be end-dated. The presumptive test limitation of 20 per fiscal year is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2016. Once the 20 test limit has been reached, further presumptive testing reimbursement will be denied. Per the definition of G0477-G0483, validity testing is included when a urine drug test is performed and is not separately reimbursable. As of July 1, 2016, presumptive testing (G0477, G0478, or G0479) must be performed and a claim submitted to NCTracks by the same or different provider before any definitive test (G0480-G0483) is reimbursed.