We bill all organism stains (Pas fungus, GMS, gram, AFB, Diff Quik for H.
pylori) as 88312.  All other stains are a 88313.

> ----------
> From: 	johnsom@shmc.org[SMTP:johnsom@shmc.org]
> Sent: 	Tuesday, December 14, 1999 12:22 PM
> To: 	'HistoNet Server' (E-mail)
> Subject: 	Billing Special Stains under CPT Codes 88312 & 88313
>
> Hi Everyone,
> Hope your holidays have been great!
>
> I have a question about which special stains can be billed out on CPT
> codes
> 88312 and 88313.  The CPT code book gives a couple of examples of stains
> for
> each CPT code, with the examples for 88312 being stains for organisms.  I
> have talked with a couple of labs, each of which interprets things
> differently.  One bills out all organism stains under 88312 and all the
> other stains under 88313. The other lab (as I do) bills out simple stains
> under 88312 including PAS, Iron and mucicarminei, and uses 88313 for all
> complex or expensive stains including Trichrome, Dieterle, Steiner, GMS,
> etc.  I can find no list of special stains in the spt code book and which
> code to use for each.  In these times of Medicare fraud being prosecuted
> so
> much and fines so high, everyone is paranoid about these types of billing
> issues for Medicare billing in particular.
>
> Any help anyone can provide would be appreciated.  I will be glad to share
> the answers with all histonet subscribers.
>
> Thanks so much.
>
> Mickie
>
> Michael L Johnson, BS, HTL(ASCP)
> Histology Supervisor
> Department of Pathology
> Sacred Heart Medical Center
> W. 101 8th Avenue
> Spokane, WA 99220
>
> (509) 474-4418
> johnsom@shmc.org
>
>