ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

Question: My practice started reporting the hydration, injection and infusion CPT codes in 2006. However, I was told that there was new language in the 2008 CPT book that may change our ability to report these codes on behalf of physicians working in the ED. What's the story with injection/infusion/hydration coding in 2008?


California Subscriber

Answer: Unfortunately, you will likely have to shelve the injection, infusion and hydration codes for services your ED physician provides. CPT introduced new language in this code section for 2008.

Then: In 2006, CPT rewrote the hydration, injection  and infusion code set. The 90760-90779 code set included the following directions, which left room for ED physicians to report the codes:

- -Physician work related to hydration, injection, and infusion services predominantly involves affirmation of treatment plan and direct supervision of staff.-
- -Typically such infusions require little special handling to prepare or dispose of, and staff that administer these do not typically require advanced practice training.

After initial set-up, infusion typically entails little patient risk and thus little monitoring.-

- -These services typically require direct physician supervision for any or all purposes of patient assessment, provision of consent, safety oversight, and intraservice supervision of staff.-

Now: CPT 2008 adds additional language to the directions for this code set--most notably this directive: -These codes are not intended to be reported by the physician in the facility setting.-

Impact: Based on the new 2008 CPT language, you will no longer be able to report these codes on the professional side in the ED setting.