Lab Test Billing Errors: How to Catch Overcharges

Billing individual chemistry tests like glucose, calcium, sodium, and potassium separately instead of using the appropriate panel code. A Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (80053) includes 14 tests and costs far less than billing each test individually.

Billing total cholesterol (82465), HDL (83718), and triglycerides (84478) individually rather than as a Lipid Panel (80061). The panel code is a fraction of the combined individual test costs. Note: LDL is typically calculated from other values, not directly measured.

Labs sometimes automatically run reflex or add-on tests without a specific physician order. For example, automatically running a thyroid panel when only a TSH (84443) was ordered, or adding a reticulocyte count to a CBC.

When multiple physicians are involved in your care, the same lab test may be ordered twice on the same day. This frequently happens during hospital stays when both the attending physician and a specialist order similar blood work.

Some labs add specimen handling or processing fees (CPT 99000-99001) that may already be included in the lab test code or the office visit charge. These fees are sometimes added for tests processed in-house.