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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesTemporary CodesHCPCS hcpcs-q0091-pap-smear-specimen-collection-transport
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    HCPCS Q0091: Screening Papanicolaou Smear Collection and Transport

    Medicare pays $48 on average nationally for this procedure.

    HCPCS Level II code Q0091 describes the service of collecting, preparing, and conveying a cervical or vaginal Papanicolaou (Pap) smear specimen to a laboratory; this is a specimen collection service typically performed as an outpatient screening procedure in clinic, physician office, or community health settings and is categorized as a screening Pap smear specimen collection and transport service.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Long-Acting Injectable Antiretroviral Agents for HIV, B-Hemolytic Streptococcus Testing, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) — Coverage Criteria for Testing and Resistance Assays.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 32-year-old woman presents to a primary care clinic for routine well-woman care. She is asymptomatic and due for cervical cancer screening per preventive care guidelines. A medical assistant rooms the patient, confirms history and insurance, and the primary care clinician (family medicine physician or advanced practice clinician) performs a pelvic speculum exam. Using a cervical broom or spatula and endocervical brush, the clinician obtains cervical and endocervical cells, prepares the smear or places the sample in a liquid-based cytology vial, labels the specimen, completes required requisition information, and arranges courier or laboratory pick-up for transport to a cytology laboratory. The clinical workflow includes documentation of informed consent for pelvic examination, indication for screening (routine surveillance), any relevant patient history (previous abnormal Pap, HPV status), and specimen adequacy. Billing for the specimen collection and conveyance is reported with Q0091. If reflex HPV testing or additional laboratory processing is performed by the laboratory, those services are billed separately by the laboratory using appropriate CPT/HCPCS codes. Typical sites of service include ambulatory clinic, community health center, and outpatient preventive care settings.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    57454Colposcopy of the cervix including upper/adjacent vagina; with biopsy(s) and endocervical curettagePerformed when a screening Pap (Q0091) yields abnormal results requiring diagnostic evaluation.
    88141Cytopathology, cervical or vaginal (Pap) smear, cervical or vaginal; automated thin prep screening with manual rescreening by technicianLaboratory processing code commonly used by labs when liquid-based cytology is performed after specimen collection.
    88142Cytopathology, cervical or vaginal (Pap) smear; automated thin prep screening, rescreening & review by a physicianRepresents physician review of cytology slides after Q0091 specimen is processed.
    87624Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); Human papillomavirus (HPV), high-risk types, includes types 16 and 18 (any method)Performed as reflex or co-test with screening cytology when indicated; ordered by clinician after collection.
    99213Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient, typically 15 minutesCommon E/M code when a problem-focused visit includes collection of the Pap smear and counseling; billable with modifier 25 when appropriate.

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    25CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    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
    208000000X
    363L00000X
    163W00000X
    207V00000X
    261QE0800X
    163WP0000X
    376K00000X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Infectious Disease1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Long-Acting Injectable Antiretroviral Agents for HIVColorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-10-01
    B-Hemolytic Streptococcus TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) — Coverage Criteria for Testing and Resistance AssaysOscar Health2026-10-01
    Hepatitis Testing (A, B, C, D) Coverage CriteriaOscar Health2026-10-01
    Lyme Disease Testing Coverage CriteriaOscar Health2026-10-01
    Pathogen Panel TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Diagnostic Testing of Common Sexually Transmitted InfectionsOscar Health2026-10-01
    Coronavirus Testing in the Outpatient SettingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Testing for Vector-Borne InfectionsOscar Health2026-10-01
    Testing for Diagnosis of Active or Latent TuberculosisOscar Health2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-Q4139-INJECTABLE-AMNIOMATRIX-BIODMATRIX-1-CC

    HCPCS Q4139: Amniomatrix or Biodmatrix, Injectable, 1 cc

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-Q4256-AREA-BASED-PROCEDURAL-ADD-ON-PER-SQ-CM

    HCPCS Q4256: MLG-complete Skin Graft Material, Per Sq Cm

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-Q5132-ADALIMUMAB-AFZB-ABRILADA-10MG-INJECTION

    HCPCS Level II Q5132: Injection, adalimumab-afzb (Abrilada), 10 mg

    HCPCS-Q0035-CARDIOKYMOGRAPHY-CARDIAC-MOTION-RECORDING

    HCPCS Level II Q0035: Cardiokymography

    HCPCS-Q0081-INFUSION-THERAPY-NON-CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC-PER-VISIT

    HCPCS Level II Q0081: Infusion Therapy, Non‑Chemotherapeutic, Per Visit

    HCPCS-Q0083-CHEMOTHERAPY-NON-INFUSION-ADMINISTRATION

    HCPCS Q0083: Chemotherapy Administration, Non-Infusion Methods

    HCPCS-Q0084-CHEMOTHERAPY-INFUSION-ADMINISTRATION-PER-VISIT

    HCPCS Q0084: Chemotherapy Infusion Administration, Per Visit

    HCPCS-Q0085-CHEMOTHERAPY-INFUSION-PLUS-OTHER-TECHNIQUES-PER-VISIT

    HCPCS Q0085: Chemotherapy Infusion Plus Other Technique(s), Per Visit

    HCPCS-Q0092-PORTABLE-XRAY-EQUIPMENT-SETUP

    HCPCS Q0092: Set-up Portable X-ray Equipment

    HCPCS-Q0111-WET-MOUNT-VAGINAL-CERVICAL-SKIN-SPECIMENS

    HCPCS Q0111: Wet Mount Preparations of Vaginal, Cervical, or Skin Specimens

    Showing 1–10 of 629

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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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