Name of Manual - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

Coding Policies and Guidelines (Laboratory)
Standing Orders Generally, laboratory tests performed because of standing orders
on file for certain patients are not covered. One example of this is a
standing order for routine screening tests when the patient has no
clinical symptoms or is not taking medications. Laboratory
services based on standing orders are covered only if you can show
the medical necessity of the services through your medical records
or if the patient has routine screening benefits and the tests are
coded with an ICD-9-CM as routine services.
Venipunctures and Lab
Handling
The following codes apply to venipunctures and lab handling:
Code Description
36415 Collection of venous blood by venipuncture
36416 Collection of capillary blood specimen (e.g., finger,
heel, ear stick)
99000 Handling and/or conveyance of specimen for transfer
from the physician’s office to a laboratory
Code 36415 is submitted when the provider performs a
venipuncture service to collect a blood specimen(s).
As opposed to a venipuncture, a finger/heel/ear stick (36416) is
performed in order to obtain a small amount of blood for a
laboratory test.
These codes should be billed only once regardless of the number
of tests performed from that specimen.
Code 99000 is an adjunct code submitted to indicate handling
and/or conveyance of a specimen for transfer from the physician’s
office to a laboratory. This code is never used for lab services
performed completely within the physician’s office.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Provider Policy and Procedure Manual (03/23/12)
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