Clarification:
Pegfilgrastim and Filgrastim
Published on Fri Oct 08, 2004
In the October 2004 Oncology Coding Alert, the article "News You Can Use: How to Make the Best of CMS' Oncology Pay Cuts" on page 77 stated:
"Physicians use pegfilgrastim and filgrastim to increase the number of a patient's white blood cells.
"Heads-up: You should report the physician's administration of these drugs using nonchemo codes 90780 (Intravenous infusion for therapy/diagnosis, administered by physician or under direct supervision of physician; up to one hour) and +90781 (... each additional hour ...)."
The last part of the sentence should read, "You should report the physician's administration of these drugs using the appropriate injection code, such as 90782 (Therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic injection [specify material injected]; subcutaneous or intramuscular)."