Effort to Map Molecular/Genetic Tests to CPT Codes

The American Medical Association will work with McKesson Corp. to develop a common way of identifying and tracking molecular or genetic diagnostic tests.


The American Medical Association will work with McKesson Corp. to develop a common way of identifying and tracking molecular or genetic diagnostic tests.

More than 3,000 molecular and genetic diagnostics are marketed for clinical use, according to the organizations. McKesson since 2011 has offered the McKesson Diagnostics Exchange, an online catalog that enables labs and diagnostics manufacturers to submit information about specific molecular tests, so providers and insurers can understand them. The exchange issues a unique “Z-Code Identifier” to each test and catalogs it for reference.

Now, AMA and McKesson will map Z-Code Identifiers to appropriate CPT codes to enable physicians to identify and select tests, and enable labs to match tests to codes to ease the reimbursement process, according to the organizations. Payers also will better identify tests and be able to track outcomes. Not all Z-Code Identifiers will map to a CPT code and multiple identifiers may map to a single CPT code.

The AMA expects to start licensing the new service in early 2014.

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