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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesSurgical Pathology ProceduresCPT cpt-88321-pathology-consultation-slide-review
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    CPT 88321: Pathology Consultation on Externally Prepared Slides

    Medicare pays $97 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 88321 describes a pathologist consultation and written report on histologic slides that were prepared and submitted by another facility; the service represents a single unit per surgical case and is typically provided as a specialty pathology consultation (professional consultative service) for cases referred in for review, usually performed in an outpatient pathology or hospital-based laboratory setting.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Onychomycosis diagnostic testing and coverage, Topical Acne-Non-Retinoid Products, Dermatology - Vtama Drug Quantity Management Policy - Per Days.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A surgical pathology consultation occurs when a pathologist reviews glass slides or digital images prepared by another laboratory or institution and issues a formal consultative report for a single surgical case. A typical patient scenario: a 62-year-old female underwent an excisional breast biopsy at a community hospital. The local lab prepares hematoxylin and eosin slides and performs routine stains, then requests an external academic pathology consult for diagnostic confirmation and treatment guidance. The consultation file includes the specimen accession, clinical history (palpable mass, prior imaging), and several slides. The consulting pathologist reviews morphology, may request additional immunohistochemical stains (if authorized by the sending lab or as part of a separate billing arrangement), and issues a signed consultative report describing diagnosis, margin status if applicable, and recommendations. The consulting report is transmitted to the sending clinician and becomes part of the patient record for surgical planning and oncology care.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    88305Level IV surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examinationCommon primary pathology code when the receiving lab performs the microscopic exam; may precede or accompany a consult if initial interpretation was by the sending lab
    88342Immunohistochemistry or special stains, per slideOften performed by the consulting or sending lab to clarify diagnosis; may be ordered after review of consult slides
    88321Consultation on referred slides (the consultative service described)The consultative report on slides prepared elsewhere; billed per surgical case
    88331Cytopathology, preparatory and interpretation (thin prep)May be related when cytology materials accompany a surgical case and require consultation
    88329Pathology consultation during intraoperative procedures (frozen section)Intraoperative consults differ from 88321 but may be part of the same patient workflow when immediate interpretation is needed

    Related Modifiers

    9 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…
    90Modifier ‑90 (Reference/Outside Laboratory) indicates that a laboratory test was performed by an entity other than the treating or reporting provider. The American Medical Association defines…- Use CPT modifier -90 when a laboratory test is performed by an outside/reference laboratory (an entity other than the treating or reporting physician or qualified professional) and the claim needs…
    91Modifier 91 — “Repeat Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test” — is appended when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once for the same patient on the same day because serial,…- Use modifier 91 when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once on the same patient on the same date because serial or repeated testing is medically necessary to monitor…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    207P00000XEmergency Medicine PhysicianAn emergency physician focuses on the immediate decision making and action necessary to prevent death or any further disability both in the pre-hospit…
    207L00000XAnesthesiology PhysicianAn anesthesiologist is trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an opera…
    207K00000XAllergy & Immunology PhysicianAn allergist-immunologist is trained in evaluation, physical and laboratory diagnosis, and management of disorders involving the immune system. Select…
    207RH0000XHematology (Internal Medicine) PhysicianAn internist with additional training who specializes in diseases of the blood, spleen and lymph. This specialist treats conditions such as anemia, cl…
    364SA2200XAdult Health Clinical Nurse SpecialistPhysician Assistants & Advanced Practice Nursing Providers · Clinical Nurse Specialist
    146M00000XIntermediate Emergency Medical TechnicianAn Intermediate EMT is an individual trained and certified to perform intermediate life support treatment in medical emergencies based on individual s…
    261QM1200XMagnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Clinic/CenterAmbulatory Health Care Facilities · Clinic/Center
    261QR0404XCardiac Rehabilitation Clinic/CenterAmbulatory Health Care Facilities · Clinic/Center

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    24 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    C44.519Basal cell carcinoma of skin of other part of trunk
    C50.912Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of left female breast
    C61Malignant neoplasm of prostate
    D49.2Neoplasm of unspecified behavior of bone, soft tissue, and skin
    E11.9Type 2 diabetes mellitus without complications
    E66.9Obesity, unspecified
    F32.9Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified
    H66.90Otitis media, unspecified, unspecified ear
    I83.90Asymptomatic varicose veins of unspecified lower extremity
    J98.4Other disorders of lung

    Showing 1–10 of 24

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Dermatology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Onychomycosis diagnostic testing and coverageOscar Health2026-10-01
    Topical Acne-Non-Retinoid ProductsCigna2026-08-15
    Dermatology - Vtama Drug Quantity Management Policy - Per DaysCigna2026-08-15
    Medical Necessity Guidelines: Acne and Rosacea Medicationsharvard pilgrim health care2026-08-11
    Pharmacologic Treatment of PsoriasisPremera Bluecross2026-08-01
    Winlevi (clascoterone 1% cream) — Topical AcneCigna2026-08-01
    Spevigo (spesolimab‑sbzo) for generalized pustular psoriasisUnitedHealthcare2026-08-01
    Onychomycosis Testingblue cross blue shield - louisiana2026-08-01
    Spesolimab-sbzo (Spevigoblue cross blue shield - tennessee2026-07-31
    Home ultraviolet light therapy equipment for skin conditionsselect_health2026-07-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-88300-LEVEL-I-SURGICAL-PATHOLOGY-GROSS-EXAMINATION-ACCESSIONING

    CPT 88300: Surgical Pathology, Level I Gross Examination

    CPT-88302-SURGICAL-PATHOLOGY-LEVEL-II-GROSS-AND-MICROSCOPIC-EXAMINATION

    CPT 88302: Surgical Pathology, Level II Gross and Microscopic Exam

    CPT-88304-SURGICAL-PATHOLOGY-LEVEL-III-GROSS-AND-MICROSCOPIC

    CPT 88304: Surgical Pathology, Level III Examination

    CPT-88305-SURGICAL-PATHOLOGY-LEVEL-IV-EXAMINATION

    CPT 88305: Surgical Pathology, Gross and Microscopic Examination, Level IV

    CPT-88307-SURGICAL-PATHOLOGY-LEVEL-V-EXAMINATION

    CPT 88307: Surgical Pathology Level V Examination

    CPT-88309-LEVEL-VI-SURGICAL-PATHOLOGY-EXAMINATION

    CPT 88309: Level VI Surgical Pathology Examination

    CPT-88311-DECALCIFICATION-SPECIMEN-PREPARATION

    CPT 88311: Decalcification Procedure for Tissue Specimens

    CPT-88312-SPECIAL-STAIN-MICROORGANISMS-TECHNICAL-COMPONENT

    CPT 88312: Special Stain, Technical Component for Microorganisms

    CPT-88313-SPECIAL-STAIN-TECHNICAL-COMPONENT

    CPT 88313: Technical Special Stain for Group II (e.g., iron, trichrome)

    CPT-88314-FROZEN-TISSUE-HISTOCHEMICAL-SPECIAL-STAIN

    CPT 88314: Frozen Tissue Histochemical Special Stain, Interpretation

    Showing 1–10 of 47

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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