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The CPT® Code 88309 refers to a Level VI surgical pathology examination, which involves the gross and microscopic evaluation of tissue specimens removed during various surgical procedures. This examination is critical for diagnosing conditions, particularly malignancies, by providing detailed insights into the cellular and structural characteristics of the tissue. The process begins with the removal of tissue during surgeries such as biopsies, excisions, or resections. Once the tissue is obtained, it is transported from the surgical suite to a pathologist for analysis. The pathologist first conducts a gross examination, visually inspecting the specimen to identify any notable features or abnormalities. Following this initial assessment, the specimen is prepared for microscopic evaluation, where the pathologist examines the cellular composition in detail. This thorough analysis aids in establishing a definitive diagnosis, determining the presence or absence of cancer, identifying the specific type of malignancy if cancer is present, and assessing the surgical margins to ensure that the entire diseased area has been excised. After completing the examination, the pathologist prepares a comprehensive written report of the findings, which is then sent to the treating physician for further action. The coding for pathology services, including Level VI examinations, is based on various factors such as the type of tissue examined, the expected condition of the tissue (normal or diseased), the complexity of the examination, and the time required to complete the analysis. For reference, other levels of pathology examinations include Level II (CPT® Code 88302), Level III (CPT® Code 88304), Level IV (CPT® Code 88305), and Level V (CPT® Code 88307).
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The Level VI surgical pathology examination (CPT® Code 88309) is indicated for a variety of surgical procedures where tissue specimens are removed for diagnostic purposes. The following conditions and procedures typically warrant this level of examination:
The procedure for a Level VI surgical pathology examination (CPT® Code 88309) involves several critical steps to ensure accurate diagnosis and evaluation of the tissue specimen. The following outlines the procedural steps:
Post-procedure care following a Level VI surgical pathology examination primarily involves the communication of findings to the treating physician. The pathologist's report is crucial for determining the next steps in patient management, including potential further diagnostic testing, treatment options, or follow-up care. The physician may discuss the results with the patient, explaining the implications of the findings and any necessary actions based on the diagnosis. Additionally, the pathologist may be available for consultation to clarify any aspects of the report or to discuss the implications of the findings in the context of the patient's overall clinical picture. There are no specific recovery protocols associated with the pathology examination itself, as it is a laboratory-based analysis rather than a procedure performed on the patient.
| Short Descr | TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | Medium Descr | LEVEL VI SURG PATHOLOGY GROSS&MICROSCOPIC EXAM | Long Descr | Level VI - Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination Bone resection Breast, mastectomy - with regional lymph nodes Colon, segmental resection for tumor Colon, total resection Esophagus, partial/total resection Extremity, disarticulation Fetus, with dissection Larynx, partial/total resection - with regional lymph nodes Lung - total/lobe/segment resection Pancreas, total/subtotal resection Prostate, radical resection Small intestine, resection for tumor Soft tissue tumor, extensive resection Stomach - subtotal/total resection for tumor Testis, tumor Tongue/tonsil - resection for tumor Urinary bladder, partial/total resection Uterus, with or without tubes and ovaries, neoplastic Vulva, total/subtotal resection | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 1 - Diagnostic Tests for Radiology Services | Multiple Procedures (51) | 0 - No payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 0 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure... | Co-Surgeons (62) | 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Team Surgery (66) | 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | T-Packaged Codes | Type of Service (TOS) | 5 - Diagnostic Laboratory | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | T1G - Lab tests - other (Medicare fee schedule) | MUE | 3 | CCS Clinical Classification | 234 - Pathology |
This is a primary code that can be used with these additional add-on codes.
| 0755T | Add-on Code MPFS Status: Carrier Priced APC N Digitization of glass microscope slides for level VI, surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) | 88311 | Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N PUB 100 CPT Assistant Article Decalcification procedure (List separately in addition to code for surgical pathology examination) | 88314 | Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N PUB 100 CPT Assistant Article Special stain including interpretation and report; histochemical stain on frozen tissue block (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) |
| 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. | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | X5 | Diagnostic services requested by another clinician: for reporting services by a clinician who furnishes care to the patient only as requested by another clinician or subsequent and related services requested by another clinician; this modifier is reported for patient relationships that may not be adequately captured by the above alternative categories; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the radiologist's interpretation of an imaging study requested by another clinician | 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. | AQ | Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa) | Q1 | Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study | 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 | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | 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 | 76 | Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | TC | Technical component; under certain circumstances, a charge may be made for the technical component alone; under those circumstances the technical component charge is identified by adding modifier 'tc' to the usual procedure number; technical component charges are institutional charges and not billed separately by physicians; however, portable x-ray suppliers only bill for technical component and should utilize modifier tc; the charge data from portable x-ray suppliers will then be used to build customary and prevailing profiles | XP | Separate practitioner, a service that is distinct because it was performed by a different practitioner | 22 | Increased procedural services: when the work required to provide a service is substantially greater than typically required, it may be identified by adding modifier 22 to the usual procedure code. documentation must support the substantial additional work and the reason for the additional work (ie, increased intensity, time, technical difficulty of procedure, severity of patient's condition, physical and mental effort required). note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 77 | Repeat procedure by another physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a basic procedure or service was repeated by another physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 77 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 79 | Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.) | 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) | GV | Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | 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 | GZ | Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary | KX | Requirements specified in the medical policy have been met | PC | Wrong surgery or other invasive procedure on patient | 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 | XE | Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter |
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| 2025-01-01 | Changed | Long Description punctuation changed. |
| 2013-01-01 | Changed | Description Changed |
| 2009-01-01 | Changed | Code description changed. |
| 2007-01-01 | Changed | Code description changed. |
| 2002-01-01 | Changed | Code description changed. |
| Pre-1990 | Added | Code added. |
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