Summary & Overview
CPT 0517U: PrecisView® CNS Plasma Psychoactive Drug Panel
CPT code 0517U designates a Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA) test — PrecisView® CNS from Phenomics Health™ Inc. — that uses LC–MS/MS to quantify 80+ psychoactive drugs in plasma and reports minimally and maximally effective dose ranges. As a PLA code, 0517U is specific to a single manufacturer's assay and is used when that unique test is performed.
Nationally, this code matters because it represents a growing class of high-complexity, manufacturer-specific laboratory services that support precision medication management for patients on complex psychotropic regimens. Payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.
Readers will find a concise overview of what the code represents, clinical context for use in medication management, and the payer landscape addressed in this publication. The content covers benchmarks for utilization and coverage policy trends for proprietary laboratory tests, common billing and modifier considerations, and implications for laboratory and clinical sites of service. Data limitations and unavailable fields are noted where input was not provided.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 0517U is a Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA) code that applies exclusively to the PrecisView® CNS test from Phenomics Health™ Inc. The test uses liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) to analyze plasma and measure levels of 80 or more psychoactive drugs, reporting minimally and maximally effective dose estimates for prescribed and nonprescribed medications.
Service Type: Laboratory — Proprietary quantitative plasma drug analysis using LC–MS/MS
Typical Site of Service: Reference laboratory or specialized clinical laboratory
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 42-year-old patient with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder and a complex history of multiple psychotropic medication trials is evaluated by a psychiatric clinic. The treating psychiatrist orders the PrecisView® CNS test (0517U) performed by Phenomics Health™ Inc. to quantify plasma concentrations of 80+ psychoactive drugs using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The goal is to identify subtherapeutic, therapeutic, or supratherapeutic drug levels and detect unreported substances to inform medication optimization. Specimen collection occurs at an outpatient laboratory draw station or a hospital phlebotomy unit; the sample is shipped to the proprietary laboratory. Results are returned to the ordering clinician and reviewed during a follow-up visit to correlate measured concentrations with clinical response and adverse effects, guiding dose adjustments or medication changes.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when billing separately for the physician interpretation or professional component of the test if applicable and reportable. |
52 |