L849 – Interpretation and handling of decalcified tissue
OHIP Dermatology Code — DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
L849 is a professional service for the interpretation and handling of decalcified tissue. This procedure is typically performed in a laboratory setting as part of the histopathological examination of bone or other calcified tissue samples, which require the removal of calcium salts before they can be sectioned and stained for microscopic analysis.
When to Use
- Use L849 as an add-on fee when a bone biopsy or resection requires chemical decalcification before standard histopathological processing.
- Apply this code specifically for specimens like bone marrow biopsies or orthopedic hardware-adjacent tissue that cannot be sectioned without prior decalcification.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing L849 for routine soft tissue biopsies that do not undergo decalcification will result in an automatic rejection or audit recovery.
- Submitting L849 without the corresponding primary histopathology code (e.g., L834 or L835) for the tissue examination is a common billing error.
Billing Tips
- Ensure the pathology report explicitly documents the decalcification process to support the claim during a post-payment audit.
Effective: April 1, 2025
J. Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures
DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES
Laboratory
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures
All insured services must be documented in the medical record to establish that the service was provided, medically necessary, and is the service for which the account is submitted. As this is an interpretation service, a report of the findings should be maintained in the patient's record.
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