Summary & Overview
CPT 82747: RBC Folic Acid (Folate) Level Measurement
CPT code 82747 denotes measurement of folic acid in red blood cells (RBC folate) to detect folate deficiency. RBC folate testing is clinically important for diagnosing deficiency when serum folate may be transiently normal, guiding management of patients with malabsorption, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, or following bariatric and other gastrointestinal surgeries. Nationally, folate testing intersects preventive care, nutritional assessment, and management of anemia, making clear coding and coverage understanding relevant for laboratories, clinicians, and payers.
Key payers addressed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of the clinical purpose of the test, typical sites of service, common billing modifiers, and payer coverage patterns where available. The publication outlines benchmarking context for utilization and reimbursement (where available), summarizes applicable policy considerations, and highlights clinical indications and testing limitations.
This summary targets laboratory managers, billing professionals, and clinical teams seeking clarity on coding, clinical context, and payer interactions for RBC folate testing. Data not included in the input—such as specific reimbursement rates, payer-specific coverage criteria, and ICD-10 pairings—is identified as unavailable where relevant.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 82747 measures folic acid (folate) levels in red blood cells (RBC folate) to assess for deficiency. The test evaluates intracellular folate stores and helps identify folic acid deficiency associated with conditions that impair absorption or increase requirements, such as malabsorption syndromes, Crohn’s disease, celiac sprue, and post-surgical bypass procedures.
Service type: Laboratory test — specialty chemistry/hematology
Typical site of service: Clinical laboratory or hospital laboratory (blood draw performed in outpatient phlebotomy, inpatient, or ambulatory settings)
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 54-year-old female with a history of chronic diarrhea from Crohn’s disease and recent weight loss presents for evaluation of macrocytic anemia and fatigue. The clinician orders a red blood cell (RBC) folate level to determine intracellular folate stores because serum folate may be transiently normal while RBC folate reflects longer-term folate status. A phlebotomy technician draws a whole blood specimen into the appropriate anticoagulated tube per laboratory protocol and sends it to the clinical chemistry laboratory. The laboratory analyst performs the 82747 assay to measure RBC folate concentration; results are reviewed by the laboratory director and reported to the ordering provider. Interpretation guides management for potential folate supplementation and evaluation of malabsorption or surgical causes (for example, post–bariatric surgery). Typical site of service is an outpatient phlebotomy clinic or hospital laboratory associated with an ambulatory or inpatient encounter.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when reporting only the professional component of a laboratory service if split billing applies (rare for automated chemistry assays but applicable when physician interpretation fee is billed separately). |