Skip to main content
Premium Trial:

Request an Annual Quote

Interpace Pancreas Test Reimbursement Code Changed

This article has been updated from a previous version to clarify that the Interpace test was assigned a different, existing CPT code.

NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Interpace Diagnostics announced today that its Medicare administrative carrier Novitas Solutions has assigned a different molecular CPT code to the molecular diagnostic firm's PancraGen test for pancreatic cysts, which is expected to improve reimbursement.

The CPT, or Current Procedural Terminology, code is widely used to report medical procedures and services to health insurance programs. Previously, the PancraGen test was covered by Novitas under a miscellaneous chemistry code used for a range of tests, Interpace said.

The new code designates a molecular pathology procedure and "enables both Interpace Diagnostics and those hospitals that bill Medicare directly to use a molecular code when billing for PancraGen, which could result in incremental reimbursement above the established Diagnosis-Related Group payment for this condition," Interpace Interim CEO Jack Stover said in a statement.

The fee paid by Medicare remains unchanged at $3,100, but the new code is expected to streamline the reimbursement process for hospital clients and positively impact the way remittances are received from both Medicare and commercial payors, the company said.

The Scan

Cancer Survival Linked to Mutational Burden in Pan-Cancer Analysis

A pan-cancer paper appearing in JCO Precision Oncology suggests tumor mutation patterns provide clues for predicting cancer survival that are independent of other prognostic factors.

Australian Survey Points to Public Support for Genetic Risk Disclosure in Relatives of At-Risk Individuals

A survey in the European Journal of Human Genetics suggests most adult Australians are in favor of finding out if a relative tests positive for a medically actionable genetic variant.

Study Links Evolution of Stony Coral Skeleton to Bicarbonate Transporter Gene

A PNAS paper focuses on a skeleton-related bicarbonate transporter gene introduced to stony coral ancestors by tandem duplication.

Hormone-Based Gene Therapy to Sterilize Domestic Cat

A new paper in Nature Communication suggests that gene therapy could be a safer alternative to spaying domestic cats.