It has come to the attention of the Patterns of Practice Committee that physicians may be inappropriately billing fee item 15142 (urinalysis—complete diagnostic, semi-quant, and micro) due to misinformation from medical supply company reps or colleagues.

Physicians are being told that if they purchase the more expensive strip they can bill the higher fee, 15142. This is incorrect.

In order to bill fee item 15142, you need a microscope and you must do the microscopy as well as record the results in the medical record. If you are only doing a dipstick, you should be billing fee item 15130 (urinalysis—chemical or any part of [screening]) and, of course, still recording the results.
—Keith J. White, MD
Chair, Patterns of Practice Committee

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This article is the opinion of the Patterns of Practice Committee and has not been peer reviewed by the BCMJ Editorial Board. For further information contact Juanita Grant, audit and billing advisor, Physician and External Affairs, at 604 638-2829 or jgrant@doctorsofbc.ca [10].