tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert - 2022 Issue Q4

Reader Quesitons: Use This, not That, for Blood Draws

Question: I recently used 99195 (Phlebotomy, therapeutic (separate procedure)) for a routine blood draw, but it was denied. What code should I report when I resubmit? New York Subscriber Answer: For routine blood draws, you will typically use 36415 (Collection of venous blood by venipuncture). Here’s why. The most significant difference between 99195 and 36415 lies in the distinction between the terms “phlebotomy” and “venipuncture.” We often use these words interchangeably. Technically, though, venipuncture is a subset of phlebotomy, which refers to the collection of blood by one of several methods, some of which are...

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