Billing for Second ABO/Rh required for Computer Crossmatch

[bhayden]

Can you bill for the second ABO/Rh if fulfilling the requirement for using the computer crossmatch per AABB standards? I have searched the Reimbursement guide, but cannot find a reference.

[tbostock]

I don't believe you can. You are allowed to charge for the computer crossmatch, though.

[ladyjinarkansas]

Can you bill for the second ABO/Rh if fulfilling the requirement for using the computer crossmatch per AABB standards? I have searched the Reimbursement guide, but cannot find a reference.

You can not bill for the second ABO/Rh typing. Medicare generally does not allow hospitals to bill separately for additional testing that is confirmatory in nature. In general, confirmatory tests may be considered good medical practice, but they often do not meet Medicare's "medical necessity" requirement for coverage. Your hospital could include the cost of the second typing in its charge for the original typing, but this would not result in additional reimbursement. SKJackson, BSMT(ASCP)

[Avid123]

It does not matter what you bill for on inpatients as reimbursement is based on the DRG code.

Outpatients are a different story. Here is where you need to be concerned. You cannot bill for the second blood type nor antibody screen performed on the second specimen for electronic XM eligibility. You cannot charge for the second blood type performed on a second specimen for patient safety either. You cannot bill for CMV neg or Irradiated blood if the patients diagnosis code is not included on the approved list.

j

[Likewine99]

No you cannot bill for the second ABO/Rh, it is part of a regulatory requirement.

You could set this procedure up in either you BB or LIS to generate no charge but to put the test in your daily productivity/workload count bucket.

It's just like a donor retype, necessary to get the product out the door but not billable.