§ 414.523 Payment for laboratory specimen collection fee and travel allowance.

(a) Specimen collection fee and travel allowance. In addition to the payment amounts provided under this subpart for CDLTs, new CDLTs, and new ADLTs, CMS pays a specimen collection fee, as set forth in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, and a travel allowance, as set forth in paragraph (a)(2) of this section.

(1) Payment for specimen collection. Except as provided in paragraph (a)(1)(v) of this section and subject to the annual update in paragraph (a)(1)(iv) of this section, beginning January 1, 2023, CMS pays $8.57 for all specimens collected in one patient encounter, where the specimen(s) is:

(i) Used to perform a CDLT paid under this subpart G;

(ii) Collected by a trained technician from a Medicare beneficiary who is——

(A) Homebound as described in 42 CFR 424.22(a)(1)(ii).

(B) A non-hospital inpatient, but only when no qualified personnel are available at the facility to collect the specimen;