Summary & Overview
CPT 82938: Secretin-Stimulated Gastrin Measurement
CPT code 82938 describes a secretin-stimulated gastrin assay: a diagnostic laboratory test measuring gastrin levels after the provider administers secretin to stimulate hormone release. This specialized biochemical test aids in evaluating disorders that produce marked increases in gastrin and can influence diagnostic pathways for gastrinoma and related conditions. Nationally, accurate coding and appropriate site selection for such stimulated endocrine testing are important for consistent clinical interpretation and claims processing.
Key payers discussed in the national analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of the clinical context for secretin-stimulated gastrin measurement, typical sites of service, and common billing considerations. The publication outlines benchmark elements and policy-relevant items that affect coverage and reimbursement practices, and it summarizes how payers commonly treat specialized stimulated endocrine assays.
The report supplies concise guidance on the clinical purpose of the assay, typical utilization settings, and the kinds of documentation and procedural context that commonly accompany claims for CPT code 82938. Data not available in the input are noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 82938 represents a laboratory assay that measures gastrin levels after administration of the stimulant secretin. The test assesses the change in gastrin concentration drawn at a defined interval following the provider-administered secretin stimulant, which can help identify conditions that produce an abnormal rise in gastrin.
Service Type: Diagnostic laboratory test with pharmacologic stimulation
Typical Site of Service: Hospital outpatient laboratory or ambulatory care facility (clinical laboratory)
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult referred by a gastroenterologist for evaluation of suspected gastrinoma or Zollinger‑Ellison syndrome after persistent peptic ulcer disease, recurrent diarrhea, or markedly elevated fasting gastrin. The provider administers an intravenous bolus of secretin and schedules timed blood draws for gastrin measurement; the laboratory performs the assay described by CPT 82938 to measure the stimulated gastrin level. The clinical workflow: pretest consent and review of acid‑suppressing medications (proton pump inhibitors often withheld if medically safe), baseline fasting gastrin measured, secretin given intravenously, blood samples obtained at specified intervals (commonly 2, 5, and 10 minutes), specimens sent to the lab, and the lab analyst performs the quantitative gastrin assay and reports results to the ordering provider for interpretation and localization planning (imaging or surgical referral). Typical site of service is an outpatient clinical setting or hospital outpatient infusion/observation area with laboratory services available. Patient prep, medication reconciliation, and monitoring for adverse reactions to secretin occur per clinic protocols.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|