A comprehensive metabolic panel and a general health panel is ordered and performed on a patient. What is the correct CPT coding for these laboratory orders?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

80050 is the correct code for a general health panel and, because the general health panel includes the comprehensive metabolic panel, this panel is not coded in addition to the 80050.
Code 80053 is incorrect because this code is for the comprehensive metabolic panel, but because another panel that is more extensive that includes the comprehensive metabolic panel was also ordered, this code overlaps with the general health panel code 80050. Code 80051 is incorrect because this code is for an electrolyte panel, which is part of the comprehensive metabolic panel and part of the general health panel. Code 80048 is also incorrect because this is a basic metabolic panel, which is included within the comprehensive metabolic panel.

A Comprehensive Metabolic Panel and a General Health Panel Is