The U.S Preventive Services Task Force and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) have joined in a recent call for one-time hepatitis C screening among baby boomers. The task force recommends that those born between 1945 and 1965 be screened, while the CDC encourages individuals born between 1946 and 1965 be screened.
Hepatitis C affects approximately 3.2 million Americans, 75% of which were born between 1945-1965; many are unaware they carry the infection, which can cause cancer and liver damage. Those who have ever practiced injection drug use, have been incarcerated, or have been a blood transfusion recipient prior to 1992 are at the highest risk and should be tested.
The recommendation to be tested updates the previous 2004 recommendation against routine hepatitis C screening; a new study indicates that one time screening among baby boomers might identify infected patients at an earlier stage of disease.
For your reference, see the below list of relevant CPT codes for Hepatitis Screening.
CPT® Codes Related to Hepatitis Screening
- 86704 Hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb); total
- 86705 Hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb); IgM antibody
- 86706 Hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb)
- 86707 Hepatitis Be antibody (HBeAb)
- 86708 Hepatitis A antibody (HAAb); total
- 86709 Hepatitis A antibody (HAAb); IgM antibody
- 86803 Hepatitis C antibody;
- 86804 Hepatitis C antibody; confirmatory test (eg, immunoblot)
- 87340 Infectious agent antigen detection by enzyme immunoassay technique, qualitative or semiquantitative, multiple step method; hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)
- 87341 Infectious agent antigen detection by enzyme immunoassay technique, qualitative or semiquantitative, multiple step method; hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) neutralization
- 87350 Infectious agent antigen detection by enzyme immunoassay technique, qualitative or semiquantitative, multiple step method; hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg)
- 87902 Infectious agent genotype analysis by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); Hepatitis C virus
- 87912 Infectious agent genotype analysis by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); Hepatitis B virus
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Article Informed By:
“Baby Boomers Should Be Screened for Hepatitis C.” – Amednews.com. American Medical Association, ` July 2013. Web. 23 July 2013.
