Posted October 13, 2020
Effective October 1, 2020, the 2021 ICD-10-CM updates for patient encounters occurring October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021 went into effect.
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Technical Bulletins
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2021 ICD Updates
Test Update: Phospholipase A2 Receptor (PLA2R)
Posted
Effective September 23, 2020, PathGroup will discontinue the use of test Phospholipase A2 Receptor Antibodies and replace it with Phospholipase A2 Receptor Antibody, IgG (Test Code: PLA2R).
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Test Update: Cystine, Urine (CYSTE)
Posted
Effective immediately, PathGroup will discontinue Cystine, Urine Random (Test Code: CYSTE) and replace it with Cystine (Quantitative), 24 Hour Urine (Test CodeL CYSQTU).
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Test Update: Report Interpretation Change-Urine Cultures
Posted June 2, 2020
Effective June 12, 2020, PathGroup will include additional report interpretation information for results <10,000CFU/ml for urine cultures (Test Code: CXURN) and for cultures performed after a reflex from urinalysis (Test Code: UA2CX).
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Test Update: Component and CPT Code Additions Autoimmune Liver Disease Reflexive Panel (AILD)
Posted
Effective immediately, new components will be added to the Autoimmune Liver Disease Reflexive Panel (Test Code: AILD) which will result in additional billed CPT codes.
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Test Available: SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Antibody
Posted May 27, 2020
Effective May 27, 2020, PathGroup is pleased to announce the availability of a new serologic test for human antibodies to SARS-Cov-2, the viral pathogen associated with COVID-19 (PathGroup Test Code: COVIDAB). On May 3, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Roche Elecsys® SARS-CoV-2 antibody test. The test is for the qualitative detection of total antibodies (including IgG, IgA and IgM) to SARS-CoV-2 in serum from individuals with prior COVID-19 infection. This test may aid in identification of patients with an adaptive immune response to SARS‑CoV‑2, indicating recent or prior infection to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
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Test Update: Coronavirus Disease 2019 Nasal Specimen Collection
Posted May 17, 2020
Effective May 18, 2020, PathGroup will accept nasal (anterior nares) specimen collection for the SARS-CoV-2, RNA test (PathGroup Test Code: COVID19) when collected with the Hologic® Aptima® Multitest Swab Specimen Collection Kit.
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Test Update: Ova/Parasite Exam Specimen Requirement Change
Posted May 11, 2020
Effective June 8, 2020, the following Ova/Parasite tests will change specimen collection containers. For all Ova/Parasite orders placed on or after June 8, Total-Fix collection vials are required for the collection of stool needed for testing. All previous specimen containers will be discontinued. There will be no change in billed CPT codes.
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Test Update: TICKID Specimen Requirement Change
Posted May 6, 2020
Effective immediately, the Tick Identification test (Test Code: TICKID) should be collected and transported in saline or ethanol in a clean container.
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Test Update: Blood Cultures
Posted April 30, 2020
Effective March 2, 2020, PathGroup is pleased to announce the implementation of the BD BACTEC system for blood cultures as well as a new test code, CXBLOOD, for blood culture testing.
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Test Update: HLA-B27 Test Code Change
Posted
Effective March 16,2020, PathGroup will discontinue HLA-B27 DNA Typing (Test Code: HLABP) and transition to the clinically equivalent HLA-B27 DNA Typing test (Test Code: HB27D).
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Test Update: Hemoglobin and Hematocrit
Posted
PathGroup now offers a testing panel that includes Hemoglobin and Hematocrit.
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ICD Update: Cigna Coverage of Vitamin D Testing
Posted
Effective August 19, 2019, Cigna has updated its Vitamin D Testing Medical Coverage Policy (Coverage Policy Number 0526). The updated policy addresses medical necessity and associated ICD-10 codes for serum Vitamin D testing.
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Test Update: Test Code Changes
Posted
Effective January 27, 2020, PathGroup will discontinue several test codes and replace them with updated test codes that are clinically equivalent.
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Specimen Requirement Changes: 12.08.2019
Posted
Effective December 8, 2019, several test codes will have changes to specimen containers and/or transportation temperatures.
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Specimen Requirement Changes: 11.17.2019
Posted
Effective November 17, 2019, several test codes will have changes to specimen containers and/or transportation temperatures.
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Test Update: CORSAL Specimen Requirement Change
Posted
PathGroup requires a new saliva collection device for Cortisol, Saliva (Test Code: CORSAL).
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Test Update: Rapid Influenza Specimen Requirement Change
Posted
PathGroup rapid influenza testing options will require new specimen collection devices.
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2020 CPT Code Changes
Posted
Effective January 1, 2020, there will be CPT code changes for laboratory tests and/or components of tests provided by PathGroup.
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Test Update: New Pediatric Test Codes
Posted
Effective January 19, 2020, PathGroup will add two new pediatric test codes (Test Code: PRENIN and Test Code: PDHTRS).
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Test Update: Test Code Changes
Posted
Effective January 29, 2020, PathGroup will discontinue several test codes and replace them with updated test codes that are clinically equivalent.
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Test Update: PH Specimen Requirement Change
Posted
PH, Urine, 24-hr Urine Collection (Test Code: PH) has had a change to specimen container.
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Test Update: ALDO Specimen Requirement Change
Posted
Aldosterone, Serum (Test Code: ALDO) has had a change to specimen container.
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Test Update: Transition of FIBROM to FIBRO
Posted
Effective September 22, 2019, PathGroup will discontinue the Liver Fibrosis, Chronic Viral Hepatitis test (Test Code: FIBROM) and will replace it with the Liver Fibrosis, Fibro Test-ActiTest Panel (Test Code: FIBRO).
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Specimen Requirement Changes: 10.20.2019
Posted
Effective October 20, 2019, several test codes will have changes to specimen containers and/or transportation temperatures.
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Specimen Requirement Changes: 10.6.2019
Posted
Effective October 6, 2019, several test codes will have changes to specimen containers and/or transportation temperatures.
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Specimen Requirement Changes: 9.22.2019
Posted
Effective September 22, 2019, several test codes will have changes to specimen containers and/or transportation temperatures.
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Specimen Requirement Changes: 9.16.2019
Posted
Several test codes have had recent changes to specimen container and/or specimen transportation temperatures.
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Test Update: Transition of RT3R to T3 Uptake
Posted
PathGroup has discontinued the Resin T3 Uptake Ratio test (Test Code: RT3R) and has replaced it with the T3 Uptake test (Test Code: T3U).
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