Medical Billing Forum

Billing => Facility Billing => : drbilling September 03, 2008, 11:31:17 PM

: Medi-Cal & Medicare Drug Screening
: drbilling September 03, 2008, 11:31:17 PM

I have a doctor in San Diego, CA who was told that she can bill multiple drug screens (opiates, cocaine, meth... etc) on one test tube and get reimbursed by Med-Cal or Medicare $19.24 per screening.  Has anyone heard of this?

Also, from what I have read and understand of previous questions/answers, drug screens would be billed on a CMS 1500, right?  AND, if a patient is admitted into a detox/rehab center then I would bill for the facility on a UB04.  What if they are an outpatient?  What form would I use?

One last thing... what is qualitative versus single testing?

QUESTIONS, questions... sorry so many.

Thanks in advance!

: Re: Medi-Cal & Medicare Drug Screening
: Michele September 04, 2008, 08:12:53 AM

Hi,
  I have not personally billed it out but I also am aware that you are able to bill out a unit for each screen at the $19.24 per unit.  And yes, the drug screens would be billed on the cms form.  They are the professional charges. 

If the patient is admitted and you are billing the facility fees then they would be billed on the UB04.  If they are outpatient but you are still billing the facility portion, you would still be using the UB04. 

I'm not sure what qualitative versus single testing is but the definition of qualitative testing is:

 Qualitative Test Result:  A test result expressed in non-numerical terms in order to determine the presence or absence of drug or drug metabolite in the sample.

I hope that helps!

Michele

: Re: Medi-Cal & Medicare Drug Screening
: drbilling September 10, 2008, 07:39:03 PM

Thanks Michelle!  I appreciate your feedback.