2017 UDT Codes Refresher

by | Aug 31, 2017 | Coding, Medical Record Auditing | 0 comments

As of January 1, 2017, providers who administer controlled substance testing should apply the proper and most current guidelines for L35724 – Controlled Substance Monitoring and Drugs of Abuse.

Best Practices

  • Ensure that services and procedures reported on submitted claims match the service(s) ordered by the physician.
  • Remember that a maximum of one presumptive and one definitive UDT may be submitted and paid per patient, per date of service.
  • DOS is the date of sample collection, rather than the day the test was run.

Presumptive Urine Drug Testing (CPT), per AMA Guidelines

  • 80305: Drug tests(s), presumptive, any number of drug classes; any number of devices or procedures, (e.g. immunoassay) capable of being read by direct optical observation only (e.g., dipsticks, cups, cards, cartridges), includes sample validation when performed, per date of service.
  • 80306: Drug test(s), presumptive, any number of drug classes, qualitative, any number of devices or procedures, (e.g., immunoassay) read by instrument assisted direct optical observation (e.g., dipsticks, cups, cards, cartridges), includes sample validation when performed, per date of service.
  • 80307: Drug test(s), presumptive, any number of drug classes, qualitative, any number of devices or procedures by instrument chemistry analyzers (e.g., utilizing immunoassay [e.g., EIA, ELISA, EMIT, FPIA, IA, KIMS, RIA]), chromatography (e.g., GC, HPLC), and mass spectrometry either with or without chromatography, (e.g., DART, DESI, GC-MS, GC-MS/MS, LC-MS, LC-MS/MS, LDTD, MALDI, TOF) includes sample validation when performed, per date of service.

Definitive UDT Testing (HCPCS)

  • G0480: Drug test(s) definitive, utilizing (1) drug identification methods able to identify individual drugs and distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily sterioisomers), including, but not limited to GC/MS (any type, single or tandem) and LC/MS ( any type, single or tandem and excluding immunoassays (e.g., IA, EIA, ELISA, EMIT, FPIA) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase)), (2) stable isotope or other universally recognized internal standards in all samples (e.g., to control for matrix effects, interferences and variations in signal strength), and (3) method or drug-specific calibration and matrix-matched quality control material (e.g., to control for instrument variations and mass spectral drift); qualitative or quantitative, all sources, includes  specimen validity testing, per day, 1-7 drug class(es), including metabolite(s) if performed.
  • G0481: Drug test(s) definitive, utilizing (1) drug identification methods able to identify individual drugs and distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily sterioisomers), including, but not limited to GC/MS (any type, single or tandem) and LC/MS (any type, single or tandem and excluding immunoassays (e.g., IA, EIA, ELISA, EMIT, FPIA) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase)). (2) stable isotope or other universally recognized internal standards in all samples (e.g., to control for matrix effects, interferences and variations in signal strength), and (3) method or drug-specific calibration and matrix-matched quality control material (e.g., to control for instrument variations and mass spectral drift); qualitative or quantitative, all sources, includes specimen validity testing, per day, 8-14 drug class(es),  including metabolites(s) if performed.
  • G0482: Drug test(s) definitive, utilizing (1) drug identification methods able to identify individual drugs and distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily sterioisomers), including, but not limited to GC/MS (any type, single or tandem) and LC/MS ( any type, single or tandem and excluding immunoassays (e.g., IA, EIA, ELISA, EMIT, FPIA) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase)), (2) stable isotope or other universally recognized internal standards in all samples (e.g., to control for matrix effects, interferences and variations in signal strength), and (3) method or drug-specific calibration and matrix-matched quality control material (e.g., to control for instrument variations and mass spectral drift) ; qualitative or quantitative, all sources, includes  specimen validity testing, per day, 15-21 drug classes, including metabolites(s) if performed.
  • G0483: Drug test(s) definitive, utilizing (1) drug identification methods able to identify individual drugs and distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily sterioisomers), including, but not limited to GC/MS (any type, single or tandem) and LC/MS ( any type, single or tandem and excluding immunoassays (e.g., IA, EIA, ELISA, EMIT, FPIA) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase)), (2) stable isotope or other universally recognized internal standards in all samples (e.g., to control for matrix effects, interferences and variations in signal strength), and (3) method or drug-specific calibration and matrix-matched quality control material (e.g., to control for instrument variations and mass spectral drift); qualitative or quantitative, all sources, includes  specimen validity testing, per day, 22 or more drug classes, including metabolites(s) if performed.
  • G0659: Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing drug identification methods able to identify individual drugs and distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily stereoisomers), including but not limited to GC/MS (any type, single or tandem) and LC/MS (any type, single or tandem), excluding immunoassays (e.g., IA, EIA, ELISA, EMIT, FPIA) and enzymatic methods (eg, alcohol dehydrogenase), performed without method or drug-specific calibration, without matrix-matched quality control material, or without use of stable isotope or other universally recognized internal standard(s) for each drug, drug metabolite or drug class per specimen; qualitative or quantitative, all sources, includes specimen validity testing, per day, any number of drug classes.

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