Hi all, I need some help with how to set up billing for CPT 86903 Blood typing: antigen screening for compatible blood units using reagent serum, per unit screened. The instructions indicate that 86903 should be billed for each unit screened NOT for each antigen tested. Thanks.

Yes. That is correct. In other words, if you screen 3 donor units for antigen C for patient A, you can bill 86903X3 regardless of typing result (C+ or C-). If you screen same units for different antigen, you can not bill 86903 again.

That is correct; you can only charge for the total number of units screened, not the antigens. Sad, but true.

We set up new test codes and pricing for antigen typings. For example: AO2 stands for "2 antigens typed", AO5 stands for "5 antigens typed". Then, we charge that code for "the number of units screened". For example:

I screened 3 units for C and K.......the code/charge would be AO2 X 3.

You just have to calculate how much you want to charge for 2 antigen typings vs. 3 antigen typings vs. 4 antigen typings, etc.....since there can be different combinations of antigens.

Careful, teskridge, you're still charging per antigen if you are charging more for 3 than 2, etc. Could be looked at as a compliance issue if you were audited.