Cardiovascular Screening Blood Tests

This benefit provides a blood test for the early detection of cardiovascular disease or abnormalities associated with an elevated risk of this disease. Three clinical laboratory tests are covered—total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglycerides. These tests are covered once every five years and can be ordered as one of each individual test or combination as a panel.

The tests must be ordered by a treating physician and used in the management of the patient. Laboratories must offer physicians the ability to order a lipid panel without the direct low density lipoprotein (LDL) measurement. However, if the screening lipid panel results illustrate a triglycerides level that indicates the need for a direct LDL measurement, the physician may order this test.

Report procedure codes for lipid panel (80061) or the individual codes for the tests included in the panel (82465, 84478, or 83718). Report a diagnosis code from the series V81.0-V81.2 (special screening for cardiovascular diseases).