General health panel
This panel must include the following:
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A general health panel, designated by CPT® Code 80050, is a comprehensive laboratory test that provides a broad overview of an individual's health status. This panel is specifically designed to include a variety of essential tests that assess multiple bodily functions and systems. The components of this panel encompass a comprehensive metabolic panel, a complete blood count with differential white blood cell count, and a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test. The comprehensive metabolic panel (CPT® Code 80053) evaluates critical biochemical markers such as albumin, bilirubin, total calcium, carbon dioxide, chloride, creatinine, glucose, alkaline phosphatase, potassium, total protein, sodium, alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), and urea nitrogen (BUN). These tests are vital for assessing electrolyte levels, fluid balance, liver function, and kidney function. The complete blood count (CBC) component, which may include either an automated differential white blood cell count (CPT® Codes 85025 or 85027 and 85004) or an appropriate manual differential white blood cell count (CPT® Codes 85007 or 85009), is crucial for diagnosing conditions such as anemia, infections, and blood clotting disorders. Additionally, the TSH test (CPT® Code 84443) measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone produced by the pituitary gland, which plays a significant role in regulating the thyroid hormones T3 and T4, thereby influencing the body's metabolic processes. Overall, the general health panel serves as a valuable tool for healthcare providers to evaluate a patient's overall health, identify potential health issues, and guide further diagnostic or therapeutic interventions.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The general health panel (CPT® Code 80050) is indicated for a variety of clinical scenarios where a comprehensive assessment of a patient's health is necessary. The following conditions and symptoms may warrant the use of this panel:
The procedure for obtaining a general health panel (CPT® Code 80050) involves several key steps to ensure accurate and reliable results. First, a healthcare professional will prepare the patient for blood draw, which may include providing instructions on fasting if required, as some components, particularly glucose, may be affected by food intake. Next, a venipuncture is performed to collect a blood sample, typically from a vein in the arm. The collected blood is then placed into appropriate collection tubes that contain specific additives to preserve the integrity of the samples for various tests. Once the blood is collected, it is sent to a laboratory where the comprehensive metabolic panel (CPT® Code 80053) is performed. This involves analyzing the blood for various biochemical markers, including electrolytes, liver enzymes, and kidney function indicators. Concurrently, the complete blood count (CBC) is conducted, which may include an automated differential white blood cell count or a manual differential count, depending on the specific requirements of the test. Finally, the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level is measured to assess thyroid function. After all tests are completed, the results are compiled and reported back to the healthcare provider, who will interpret the findings in the context of the patient's overall health and any presenting symptoms.
After the blood draw for the general health panel (CPT® Code 80050), patients may be advised to resume their normal activities unless otherwise instructed by their healthcare provider. It is common for patients to experience minor discomfort or bruising at the puncture site, which typically resolves quickly. The healthcare provider will review the test results once they are available, which may take a few days, depending on the laboratory's processing time. Based on the findings, further diagnostic testing or treatment may be recommended if any abnormalities are detected. Patients should be informed about the importance of follow-up appointments to discuss their results and any necessary next steps in their healthcare management.
| Short Descr | GENERAL HEALTH PANEL | Medium Descr | GENERAL HEALTH PANEL | Long Descr | General health panel This panel must include the following: Comprehensive metabolic panel (80053) Blood count, complete (CBC), automated and automated differential WBC count (85025 or 85027 and 85004) OR Blood count, complete (CBC), automated (85027) and appropriate manual differential WBC count (85007 or 85009) Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) (84443) | Status Code | Non-Covered Service | Global Days | XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 9 - Not Applicable | Multiple Procedures (51) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Co-Surgeons (62) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Team Surgery (66) | 9 - Concept does not apply. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | Non-Covered Service, not paid under OPPS | Type of Service (TOS) | 5 - Diagnostic Laboratory | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | T1H - Lab tests - other (non-Medicare fee schedule) | MUE | 0 | CCS Clinical Classification | 233 - Laboratory - Chemistry and Hematology |
| GY | Item or service statutorily excluded, does not meet the definition of any medicare benefit or, for non-medicare insurers, is not a contract benefit | 90 | Reference (outside) laboratory: when laboratory procedures are performed by a party other than the treating or reporting physician or other qualified health care professional, the procedure may be identified by adding modifier 90 to the usual procedure number. | GZ | Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | GA | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case | X1 | Continuous/broad services: for reporting services by clinicians, who provide the principal care for a patient, with no planned endpoint of the relationship; services in this category represent comprehensive care, dealing with the entire scope of patient problems, either directly or in a care coordination role; reporting clinician service examples include, but are not limited to: primary care, and clinicians providing comprehensive care to patients in addition to specialty care | 59 | Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25. | Q4 | Service for ordering/referring physician qualifies as a service exemption | 26 | Professional component: certain procedures are a combination of a physician or other qualified health care professional component and a technical component. when the physician or other qualified health care professional component is reported separately, the service may be identified by adding modifier 26 to the usual procedure number. | 91 | Repeat clinical diagnostic laboratory test: in the course of treatment of the patient, it may be necessary to repeat the same laboratory test on the same day to obtain subsequent (multiple) test results. under these circumstances, the laboratory test performed can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 91. note: this modifier may not be used when tests are rerun to confirm initial results; due to testing problems with specimens or equipment; or for any other reason when a normal, one-time, reportable result is all that is required. this modifier may not be used when other code(s) describe a series of test results (eg, glucose tolerance tests, evocative/suppression testing). this modifier may only be used for laboratory test(s) performed more than once on the same day on the same patient. | CC | Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed) | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | GP | Services delivered under an outpatient physical therapy plan of care | GV | Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider | GX | Notice of liability issued, voluntary under payer policy | LT | Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body) | PD | Diagnostic or related non diagnostic item or service provided in a wholly owned or operated entity to a patient who is admitted as an inpatient within 3 days | PN | Non-excepted service provided at an off-campus, outpatient, provider-based department of a hospital | Q0 | Investigational clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study | Q1 | Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study | Q5 | Service furnished under a reciprocal billing arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area | Q6 | Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area | Ordering professional consulted a qualified clinical decision support mechanism for this service and the related data was provided to the furnishing professional | QW | Clia waived test | SA | Nurse practitioner rendering service in collaboration with a physician | UA | Medicaid level of care 10, as defined by each state | X2 | Continuous/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians whose expertise is needed for the ongoing management of a chronic disease or a condition that needs to be managed and followed with no planned endpoint to the relationship; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to: a rheumatologist taking care of the patient's rheumatoid arthritis longitudinally but not providing general primary care services | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure |
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| 2013-01-01 | Changed | Description Changed |
| 2009-01-01 | Changed | Code description changed. |
| 2004-01-01 | Changed | Code description changed. |
| 2001-01-01 | Changed | Code description changed. |
| Pre-1990 | Added | Code added. |