Lab & pathology
88307 — Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination; Level V
A higher-complexity pathologist examination of a tissue specimen requiring detailed gross and microscopic review, typically used for complex biopsy specimens such as colon resections, prostatectomy specimens, breast e...
- Typical setting: Pathology lab
- National avg charge (illustrative): $80–$200 Medicare allowed; $120–$450 commercial; varies by complexity and region
- Most-disputed reason: Upcoding: billing 88307 (Level V) for specimens that only qualify for Level IV (88305) per the AMA CPT specimen-type table — this is a frequent audit target
What it means
What 88307 actually means
A higher-complexity pathologist examination of a tissue specimen requiring detailed gross and microscopic review, typically used for complex biopsy specimens such as colon resections, prostatectomy specimens, breast excisions, or thyroid nodule biopsies. Level V indicates significant complexity.
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).
- Upcoding: billing 88307 (Level V) for specimens that only qualify for Level IV (88305) per the AMA CPT specimen-type table — this is a frequent audit target
- Billing 88307 per specimen part without verifying that each part independently meets Level V complexity criteria
- Missing the additional procedure codes for ancillary studies (IHC stains, molecular testing) that may be separately billable alongside 88307 — failure to bill these is underbilling
If you see 88307 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 88307 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 88307 on a bill.
88307 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does 88307 usually cost?
$80–$200 Medicare allowed; $120–$450 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 88307?
Upcoding: billing 88307 (Level V) for specimens that only qualify for Level IV (88305) per the AMA CPT specimen-type table — this is a frequent audit target
What should I do if I see 88307 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 88307 before paying.
Don't pay 88307 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.