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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesOther ServicesHCPCS hcpcs-level-ii-m1255-positive-pregnancy-test-non-ob-visit
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    HCPCS Level II M1255: Visit with Positive Pregnancy Test, Not Established OB

    HCPCS Level II code M1255 describes a clinic visit for a patient who presents for a reason other than prenatal or postpartum care and has a positive pregnancy test but has not established the clinic as the obstetric provider (for example, plans to terminate the pregnancy or seek prenatal care elsewhere); service type: evaluation and counseling related to a newly identified pregnancy identified during a nonobstetric visit; typical site of service: ambulatory clinic or outpatient office where nonprenatal care is being provided.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Hospital Beds Corporate Medical Policy, Patient Lifts, Home Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV) Devices for Respiratory Insufficiency and Failure.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 28-year-old patient presents to a primary care clinic for an unrelated complaint — for example, evaluation of a urinary tract infection or seeking contraception counseling. A point-of-care urine pregnancy test returns positive, but the patient states she will not establish prenatal care at this clinic (plans to terminate the pregnancy or seek prenatal care elsewhere). The clinic documents the positive pregnancy test result, provides counseling or referral as appropriate, and bills the encounter using M1255 to indicate a positive pregnancy test in a patient seen for another primary reason. The clinical workflow typically includes obtaining the reason for visit, performing the pregnancy test, documenting informed discussions about options and referrals, placing orders or referrals (e.g., OB intake, family planning, or abortion services), and recording the patient’s plan not to establish prenatal care at the clinic. Vital signs, relevant physical exam, and any treatment for the primary complaint are documented in the medical record.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    81025Urinalysis, by dipstick or tablet reagent for bilirubin, glucose, hemoglobin, ketones, leukocytes, nitrite, pH, specific gravity, etc.; single step multi-test dipstickCommonly used for point-of-care urine pregnancy testing when a qualitative hCG dipstick is performed alongside evaluation of the primary complaint.
    87341Infectious agent antigen detection by immunoassay technique, qualitative or semiquantitative, multiple-step method; pregnancy test, chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)Lab-based or rapid pregnancy test that may be performed and documented during the visit as part of M1255 services.
    99213Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient, typically 15 minutesTypical E/M code for the unrelated primary reason for visit where the positive pregnancy test is discovered and documented; M1255 is appended to indicate pregnancy status when prenatal care is not established.
    59425Antepartum care only; 4-6 visits (Low maternal risk)Not billed at this encounter but may be referenced when documenting that the patient will seek prenatal care elsewhere; helps differentiate that prenatal services are not being provided by the current clinic.
    99000Handling and/or conveyance of specimen for transfer from the office to a laboratoryUse if a urine sample was sent to an external lab for confirmatory hCG testing during the visit.

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    54Modifier ‑54 (“Surgical care only”) is appended to a CPT surgical procedure when the reporting surgeon performs the intraoperative (surgical) component but does not furnish the preoperative and/or…- Use modifier -54 when the reporting surgeon provided only the intraoperative (surgical) component of a procedure and preoperative and/or postoperative management has been or will be provided by…
    55Modifier –55 indicates the billing provider furnished only postoperative management for a procedure that has a global surgical period. According to AAPC, this modifier is appended to the same CPT…- Use modifier -55 when billing the same CPT surgical code that has a 10- or 90-day global period and you, as a provider other than the original surgeon, furnished ONLY postoperative management (no…
    56Modifier ‑56 indicates the reporting provider furnished only the preoperative management for a surgical procedure and did not perform the intraoperative or postoperative care. It is used in…- Use Modifier -56 when a provider performs only the preoperative management in a split‑care situation (one physician manages preop care while a different physician performs the intraoperative…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207Q00000X
    207L00000X
    208D00000X
    363L00000X
    3416S0300X
    282NC0060X
    208600000X
    364SE0003X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Durable Medical Equipment (DME)1 / 2

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Hospital Beds Corporate Medical Policybcbsvermont2027-01-01
    Patient Liftsuniverahealthcare2026-11-16
    Home Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV) Devices for Respiratory Insufficiency and Failureexcellus_health_plan_inc2026-10-15
    Positive Airway Pressure Devices for Pulmonary Disorders Continued RentalCareSource Georgia2026-10-01
    Bone Growth StimulatorsProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01
    Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Medical Necessity and CoverageMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-10-01
    Speech Generating DevicesMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-10-01
    Interferential Stimulation Devices (for home use)Moda Health2026-10-01
    Durable Medical Equipment (DME): Tumor Treating Fields (Alternating Electric Field Therapy) Medical GuidelineWPS Health Insurance2026-10-01
    Durable Medical Equipment (DME): Bone Growth Stimulators Medical GuidelineWPS Health Insurance2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-M1252-AMBULATORY-PALLIATIVE-CARE-SURVEY-NONCOMPLETION

    HCPCS M1252: Ambulatory Palliative Care Patient Experience Survey Incomplete

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-M1278-ELEVATED-BLOOD-PRESSURE-WITH-DOCUMENTED-FOLLOW-UP

    HCPCS Level II M1278: Elevated or Hypertensive Blood Pressure Reading Documented

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-M1292-FRAILTY-WITH-ADVANCED-ILLNESS-66-PLUS

    HCPCS M1292: Frailty with Advanced Illness, Age 66 and Older

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-M1300-INFLUENZA-IMMUNIZATION-NOT-ADMINISTERED

    HCPCS Level II M1300: Influenza Immunization Not Administered, Documented Reason

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-M1326-HYPOTONY-EVALUATION-MANAGEMENT

    HCPCS Level II M1326: Patients with a Diagnosis of Hypotony

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-M1356-PATIENTS-WHO-DIED-DURING-MEASUREMENT-PERIOD

    HCPCS Level II M1356: Patients Who Died During Measurement Period

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-M1375-RA-ADDITIONAL-ENCOUNTER-90-DAYS

    HCPCS Level II M1375: Additional Rheumatoid Arthritis Encounter

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-M1384-PATIENTS-DIED-PERFORMANCE-PERIOD

    HCPCS Level II M1384: Patient Death During Performance Period

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-M1490-PATIENT-STATUS-NOT-DOCUMENTED

    HCPCS Level II M1490: Patient Status Not Documented

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-M1503-VASCULAR-SURGERY-MIPS-VALUE-PATHWAY

    HCPCS Level II M1503: Vascular Surgery MIPS Value Pathway

    Showing 1–10 of 356

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    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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