Obstetric Panel Alternative
2016 CPT Code 80081 Obstetric panel (includes HIV testing), which is identical to the long-standing obstetric panel 80055 , introduced under CPT(R) 2016 with one exception :
- The newer code includes HIV testing.
- Required components for both codes include:
Blood count, complete (CBC), and automated differential WBC count (85025 or 85027 and 85004)
OR
Blood count, complete (CBC), automated (85027) and appropriate manual differential WBC count (85007 or 85009)
- Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) (87340)
- Antibody, rubella (86762)
- Syphilis test, non-treponemal antibody; qualitative (eg, VDRL, RPR, ART) (86592)
- Antibody screen, RBC, each serum technique (86850)
- Blood typing, ABO (86900)
AND
- Blood typing, Rh (D) (86901)
To these tests, 80081 adds HIV-1 antigen(s), with HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies, single result (87389). CPT(R) also specifically instructs, ?When syphilis screening is performed using a treponemal antibody approach [86780], 80081 should not be used. The individual codes for the tests performed in the obstetric panel must be used.?
It should be noted that :
- Each test listed in the panel description must be performed, when reporting a panel code.
- Different panel code should be considered, if any single test defined as part of a panel is not performed. (For Eg. If an obstetric panel is performed without an HIV test and all other tests are performed, CPT code 80055 should be reported).
- Report the code(s) to describe the individual tests performed, rather than the panel code, if no panel code properly describes the tests performed.
Two or more panel codes including the same tests (for instance, you would never report 80081 and 80055 together) may not be reported however, test(s) performed in addition to panel components may be reported. According to the The American Medical Association?s (AMA) CPT(R) Changes 2016: ?The panel components are not intended to limit performance of other tests. If tests are performed in addition to the tests listed for a panel, the additional tests are reported separately in addition to the panel code.?