Services 88300 through 88309 include accession, examination, and reporting. They do not include the services designated in codes 88311 through 88365 and 88399, which are coded in addition when provided
The unit of service for codes 88300 through 88309 is the specimen.
A specimen is defined as tissue or tissues that is (are) submitted for individual and separate attention, requiring individual examination and pathologic diagnosis. Two or more such specimens from the same patient (eg, separately identified endoscopic biopsies, skin lesions, etc.) are each appropriately assigned an individual code reflective of its proper level of service.
Service code 88300 is used for any specimen that in the opinion of the examining pathologist can be accurately diagnosed without microscopic examination. Service code 88302 is used when gross and microscopic examination is performed on a specimen to confirm identification and the absence of disease. Service codes 88304 through 88309 describe all other specimens requiring gross and microscopic examination, and represent additional ascending levels of physician work. Levels 88302 through 88309 are specifically defined by the assigned specimens.
Any unlisted specimen should be assigned to the code which most closely reflects the physician work involved when compared to other specimens assigned to that code.
88300
Level I - Surgical pathology, gross examination
only
88302
Level II - Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic
examination
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88304 Level Ill - Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination
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88305 Level IV - Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination
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88307 Level V - Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination
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88309 Level VI - Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination
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