Medicare Claims Processing Manual (Pub. 100-04), Ch. 16 § 50.3.2
Hospital Laboratory Services Furnished to Nonhospital Patients
50.3.2 - Hospital Laboratory Services Furnished to Nonhospital Patients
(Rev. 3014, Issued: 08-06-14, Effective: ICD- 10: Upon Implementation of ICD-10
ASC-X12: 01-01-12, Implementation: ICD-10: Upon Implementation of ICD-10
ASC X12: 09-08-14)
When a hospital laboratory performs a laboratory service for a non-hospital patient, (i.e.,
for neither an inpatient nor an outpatient), the hospital bills its A/B MAC (A) on the ASC
X12 837 institutional claim format or on the hard copy Form CMS-1450. If an A/B
MAC (B) receives such claims, the A/B MAC (B) should deny them. When the lab
services are provided in Maryland, services to a hospital’s own outpatients are paid under
the State cost containment system. A Maryland hospital cannot seek payment based on a
percent of charges for tests provided to individuals in locations such as a rural health
clinic (RHC), a provider-based HHA, the individual’s home or a physician’s office).
Individuals in these locations are non-patients of the Maryland hospital and their lab tests
would be categorized as “non-patient specimen only lab tests” (TOB 14x), and are paid
under the lab fee schedule.
When a hospital-leased laboratory performs a service for a non-hospital patient, it must
bill the A/B MAC (B).