QUEST Integration – Reference Laboratory

Original Effective Date:

04/01/1999

Current Effective Date:

01/01/2015

Providers may bill for reference laboratory services to indicate that the specimen was tested by a party other than the treating or reporting provider.

Claims Filing Information

Use modifier -90 for the laboratory service performed by the reference laboratory. For example:

88150-90 - Cytopath smears

Note: Collection, handling and/or conveyance of a specimen for transfer from the physician’s office to a laboratory is considered an integral part of the evaluation and management (E/M) visit and should not be billed separately.

Revision History