CCSD Code 0014B: Acromegaly tolerance test

Key Takeaways

CCSD Code 0014B is the diagnostic code for the Acromegaly Tolerance Test, used in UK private healthcare billing to claim for pituitary function diagnostic services.

0014B is a diagnostic service charge code, not a procedural code – it must be submitted alongside the relevant consultation or procedural CCSD code, not as a standalone procedure.

Fees for CCSD Code 0014B are set by individual private medical insurers (PMIs), not by CCSD – always verify the reimbursement rate directly with Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva, or your patient’s specific insurer before invoicing.

Pabau’s claims management software helps UK private clinics submit CCSD diagnostic codes accurately, reducing claim rejections and keeping billing records audit-ready.

CCSD Code 0014B: what this diagnostic code covers

CCSD Code 0014B identifies the Acromegaly Tolerance Test in the UK private healthcare billing system. If you are running a private practice that offers endocrinology or pituitary diagnostic services, this is the code you will use to invoice private medical insurers for that specific test.

The code sits within the CCSD Diagnostic Schedule, maintained by the Clinical Coding and Schedule Development (CCSD) Group – the body responsible for setting the industry-standard coding framework used across UK private healthcare. Every claim submitted to Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva, Vitality Health, or any other private medical insurer (PMI) must carry the correct CCSD code.

CCSD Code 0014B was added to the diagnostic schedule as part of a scheduled update to the CCSD private reimbursement schedule, listed alongside other new diagnostic codes for laboratory and biochemical tests. Its formal descriptor is the Acromegaly Tolerance Test, reflecting its clinical use in confirming or ruling out acromegaly through growth hormone suppression assessment.

Clinical context: what the Acromegaly Tolerance Test involves

Acromegaly is a condition caused by excess growth hormone, usually from a benign pituitary tumor. Diagnosis requires a dynamic suppression test rather than a single hormone measurement. The Acromegaly Tolerance Test (also referred to in clinical settings as the oral glucose tolerance test for acromegaly, or OGTT-GH) involves administering an oral glucose load and measuring serial growth hormone levels to assess suppression. Failure to suppress confirms autonomous GH secretion consistent with acromegaly.

For billing purposes, the clinical specifics matter because documentation must accurately reflect what was performed. Private GP referral pathways to endocrinology are common for patients presenting with classic acromegaly features – enlarged hands or feet, facial coarsening, or incidentally raised IGF-1. The diagnosing specialist performing the tolerance test at a private facility uses CCSD Code 0014B to claim for the diagnostic service.

Importantly, 0014B codes the diagnostic service charge itself. It does not replace any procedural code for blood draws, cannulation, or the consultation associated with reviewing results. Those components require their own separate CCSD procedural codes from the relevant chapters.

0014B as a diagnostic code: key distinctions

The CCSD schedule operates two separate frameworks: the Procedural Schedule (for clinical interventions) and the Diagnostic Schedule (for diagnostic services). CCSD Code 0014B belongs to the Diagnostic Schedule. According to the CCSD Technical Guide (October 2025), diagnostic service charge codes do not constitute procedures and should not be loaded into a procedure code table.

This distinction has practical billing implications. Three things every billing team should understand:

• 0014B cannot stand alone. It must be submitted with a corresponding consultation or procedural code that reflects the clinical encounter.
• 0014B is not a procedure. Do not apply surgical assistant, anesthetist, or theatre modifiers to this code.
• 0014B fees are insurer-set. CCSD assigns the code and descriptor; individual PMIs set the reimbursement value. Verify each insurer’s rate separately.

This framework mirrors how other diagnostic codes in the 0000B series operate. If you are familiar with how to submit codes like 0002B or 0010B, the same logic applies to 0014B.

Documentation requirements for CCSD Code 0014B

UK private healthcare providers must maintain clinical records that substantiate every code billed. For CCSD Code 0014B, that means the patient file should contain clear evidence of the diagnostic test having been clinically indicated and performed. Weak documentation is the most common reason a claim is queried after submission.

Using digital forms for structured test documentation reduces the risk of incomplete records and ensures each required data point is captured at the time of the appointment. Meeting compliance requirements for private clinics also means ensuring patient consent, data retention, and access controls align with UK GDPR and CQC expectations alongside clinical coding accuracy.

The minimum documentation set for a 0014B claim should include:

• Referring clinician details and referral reason
• Clinical indication for the Acromegaly Tolerance Test (symptom description, relevant biomarker results, or imaging findings)
• Date and location of the test
• Serial growth hormone measurement results and the glucose load administered
• Interpreting clinician’s name and qualifications
• Correspondence or report sent to the referring clinician or GP

Insurers may request clinical notes to validate the claim. Records should be stored securely and remain accessible for audit in line with your UK GDPR obligations.

Which UK insurers recognize CCSD Code 0014B

All major UK private medical insurers use the CCSD coding framework as the industry standard for private healthcare claims. CCSD Code 0014B, as a code within the Diagnostic Schedule, is recognized across the PMI market. However, recognition of the code does not mean automatic reimbursement at a fixed rate – each insurer maintains its own fee schedule.

For clinics that see patients with policies from multiple insurers, leaving the NHS for private practice means building familiarity with each PMI’s portal and fee verification process. The table below summarizes the key insurers and where to verify their current rates for diagnostic codes including 0014B:

Never assume a published fee applies to every patient. Policy type, excess level, and whether the test was pre-authorised all affect reimbursement. Always confirm the applicable rate before invoicing the insurer.

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How to submit claims using CCSD Code 0014B

Most UK private healthcare claims are submitted electronically through Healthcode, the industry-standard clearinghouse for PMI claims. If your clinic submits via Healthcode, the workflow for CCSD Code 0014B follows the same path as any other diagnostic code submission.

Good claims management software builds these steps into the workflow so nothing is missed before submission. The submission sequence for 0014B looks like this:

1. Confirm pre-authorization. Obtain the insurer’s authorization reference number before the test is performed. Record this in the patient file.
2. Identify the correct code combination. 0014B covers the diagnostic service charge. Add the relevant consultation or procedural code for the clinical encounter where results are reviewed.
3. Verify fee rates. Check the current rate for 0014B with the specific insurer. Do not use rates from a different insurer’s schedule.
4. Complete the invoice accurately. Include the patient’s membership or policy number, the treating clinician’s details, date of service, and the CCSD code(s) with their correct descriptions.
5. Submit through the insurer’s preferred channel. Healthcode electronic submission is accepted by all major UK PMIs. Paper claims are still accepted by some insurers but carry longer processing times.
6. Retain documentation. Keep the full clinical record, pre-authorization reference, and copy of the invoice for at least seven years in line with standard medical records retention practice.

Practices building these steps into a consistent billing workflow benefit most from billing software that removes manual steps from the claims process rather than adding complexity.

Common billing errors to avoid with CCSD Code 0014B

Claims for diagnostic codes like 0014B fail for predictable reasons. Most errors are avoidable with a consistent pre-submission check. Here are the most frequent mistakes billing teams make with this code:

• Submitting 0014B without a corresponding consultation code. Diagnostic service codes do not stand alone. A claim for 0014B without the associated procedural or consultation code is likely to be queried or rejected.
• Missing pre-authorization. Submitting a claim for a diagnostic test without prior PMI approval is the single most avoidable rejection cause. Get the reference number first.
• Using the wrong fee schedule. Applying one insurer’s rate to a claim for a different insurer creates invoice discrepancies that delay payment. Each PMI sets its own fee.
• Insufficient clinical documentation. A claim unsupported by a clear clinical record showing the indication for the test can be queried during audit. The documentation must justify why the Acromegaly Tolerance Test was clinically appropriate for this patient.
• Incorrect code description. Using a shortened or informal descriptor instead of the official CCSD narrative for 0014B can cause electronic claim edits. Match the description to the code exactly.

Effective private practice management depends on catching these issues before submission, not after. A structured billing review step – ideally supported by software that flags incomplete submissions – reduces the rework cycle significantly.

Related CCSD diagnostic codes

Endocrinology practices frequently use several diagnostic codes alongside or near 0014B. Knowing the adjacent codes reduces the risk of miscoding a similar test. The 0000B series in the CCSD Diagnostic Schedule covers a range of specialist diagnostic service charges. For worked examples of how other CCSD codes are billed, see Pabau’s guides to CCSD Code 0048B and CCSD Code 5471B.

For the full list of current diagnostic codes, log in to the CCSD schedule portal or refer to the CCSD Technical Guide for the most recent code listings and business rules. The schedule is updated periodically; always use the current version when building or reviewing your procedure code table.

Conclusion

CCSD Code 0014B is a straightforward code in its structure but one that trips up billing teams who treat it like a procedure code. It is a diagnostic service charge, not a standalone procedure. That distinction shapes everything – from how it is submitted, to what documentation must accompany the claim, to how the fee is set. Get those fundamentals right and the claim process is predictable.

For UK private clinics handling endocrinology and pituitary diagnostic billing, Pabau’s compliance management software keeps records structured and submission-ready. Book a demo to see how Pabau supports private practice billing workflows from coding to claim submission.

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