Laboratory Question for the Week of February 19, 2018

Question:

Last week you said Pap smear rates would increase 1.10 percent this year. What does that equate to in dollars and cents?

Answer:

As required by law, payment for a cervical or vaginal smear test (Pap smear) must be the lesser of the local fee or the national limitation amount (NLA) but not less than a national minimum payment amount, which for 2018 is $14.65. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services use last year’s payment of $14.49 to determine this amount. Specifically, $14.49 times a 1.10 percent 2018 update equals $14.65.

This question was answered in an edition of our Laboratory Compliance Manager. For more hot topics relating to laboratory services, please view our store, or call us at 1.800.252.1578 ext. 2.

Fee schedules, relative value units, conversion factors and/or related components are not assigned by the AMA, are not part of CPT, and the AMA is not recommending their use. The AMA does not directly or indirectly practice medicine or dispense medical services. The AMA assumes no liability for data contained or not contained herein.

CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association.

Laboratory Question for the Week of February 19, 2018

Looking for an answer?

Compliance Question Archive

Sign Up for Compliance Question of the Week

Get in Touch

Topics

Account

Info