Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (Pub. 100-02), Ch. 6 § 20.4.1
Diagnostic Services Defined
20.4.1 - Diagnostic Services Defined
(Rev. 82; Issued: 02-08-08; Effective: 01-01-08; Implementation: 03-10-08)
A service is “diagnostic” if it is an examination or procedure to which the patient is
subjected, or which is performed on materials derived from a hospital outpatient, to
obtain information to aid in the assessment of a medical condition or the identification of
a disease. Among these examinations and tests are diagnostic laboratory services such as
hematology and chemistry, diagnostic x-rays, isotope studies, EKGs, pulmonary function
studies, thyroid function tests, psychological tests, and other tests given to determine the
nature and severity of an ailment or injury.