Lab & pathology
88305 — Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination; Level IV
A pathologist's examination of a tissue sample that involves both visual inspection (gross) and microscopic review to diagnose disease, most commonly used for biopsy specimens from colonoscopy, skin removal, cervical ...
- Typical setting: Pathology lab
- National avg charge (illustrative): $50–$120 Medicare allowed; $80–$300 commercial; varies by complexity and region
- Most-disputed reason: Miscoding level: billing the higher-complexity Level V (88307) when the specimen type only supports Level IV (88305) — level is determined by the AMA's specimen-type list, not by the pathologist's choice
What it means
What 88305 actually means
A pathologist's examination of a tissue sample that involves both visual inspection (gross) and microscopic review to diagnose disease, most commonly used for biopsy specimens from colonoscopy, skin removal, cervical biopsy, and similar procedures. Level IV reflects a moderately complex specimen.
Common errors with this code
What goes wrong on real bills.
Most bills that look correct still contain at least one of these issues. Up to 49% of medical bills contain errors (CFPB).
- Miscoding level: billing the higher-complexity Level V (88307) when the specimen type only supports Level IV (88305) — level is determined by the AMA's specimen-type list, not by the pathologist's choice
- Billing multiple units of 88305 for multiple specimens from the same anatomic site on the same date without documentation that each part was separately processed
- Unbundling: billing 88302, 88304, and 88305 for parts of the same surgical specimen rather than selecting the single appropriate level code
If you see 88305 on your bill
Three steps before paying.
1. Get the itemized bill. If your statement only shows a summary, request the CPT-level itemized bill before paying. Generate the request language →
2. Cross-check against the EOB. Compare what your insurer's Explanation of Benefits says you owe versus what the hospital is asking. They disagree more often than people think. Read the bill-vs-EOB guide →
3. Run a free Bill Scan. Upload the bill (and EOB if you have it) and BillBusted will flag the most likely issues with this specific code in your specific state. Run free scan →
Related codes
Other codes in this category.
People who land on 88305 often also see these adjacent codes on the same bill.
CPT
80050 — General health panel; includes CBC w/diff, CMP, TSH
Lab — check for unbundling and duplicate billing.
CPT
80051 — Electrolyte panel; CO2, chloride, potassium, sodium
Lab — check for unbundling and duplicate billing.
CPT
80053 — Comprehensive metabolic panel
If individual blood tests are also on your bill, you may have an unbundling error.
CPT
80055 — Obstetric panel; CBC w/diff, HBsAg, rubella Ab, syphilis, RBC Ab screen, ABO/Rh
Lab — check for unbundling and duplicate billing.
CPT
80061 — Lipid panel (cholesterol)
If you see HDL or LDL listed separately next to 80061, that's unbundling.
Related BillBusted guides
Plain-English reads if you see 88305 on a bill.
88305 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does 88305 usually cost?
$50–$120 Medicare allowed; $80–$300 commercial; varies by complexity and region. Costs vary by region, payer contract, and whether the service was performed in a hospital outpatient department (which adds a facility fee) versus a free-standing clinic.
What's the most common billing error on 88305?
Miscoding level: billing the higher-complexity Level V (88307) when the specimen type only supports Level IV (88305) — level is determined by the AMA's specimen-type list, not by the pathologist's choice
What should I do if I see 88305 on my bill?
Request the itemized bill and the matching EOB from your insurer. Compare the units/quantity billed against what you actually received. Run a free BillBusted scan to flag the most likely errors specific to 88305 before paying.
Don't pay 88305 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.