When a patient undergoes tests and the results return normal, what type of service is provided?

In the context of medical coding and billing, when a patient undergoes tests and the results return normal, the service provided is classified as screening services. Screening services are specific tests performed on asymptomatic individuals to detect potential health issues early, even before symptoms are present. These services aim to identify conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or cancer at a stage where they are more manageable or treatable.

Unlike diagnostic services, which are aimed at identifying a condition when a patient is showing symptoms or has already been diagnosed, screening services focus on prevention and early detection. Therefore, when testing results return normal, it generally indicates that the screening was successful in determining that the patient does not currently exhibit the condition under examination, aligning perfectly with the goal of screening.

Therapeutic services, in contrast, involve treatment interventions to alleviate or cure an existing health problem, while consultative services refer to an expert opinion on a case. Since normal results from tests do not indicate either treatment or consultation is necessary, those options do not apply in this scenario.