Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

Most oncology offices wait with bated breath for the new CPT book each December, but if your office doesn't note Medicare's HCPCS Level II code changes this year, your office could end up in hot water.
 
Medicare has released a slew of new HCPCS codes for use when coding injections and infusions in 2005, according to a CMS news release. Failure to use these codes could result in denials from Medicare, so make sure you know the new codes before you file claims in 2005.
 
This year, you must be careful when reporting infusions and injections to Medicare. For example, a Medicare patient reports to the office for a chemo injection via single push technique. In 2005, you should report G0357 (IV push, single/initial, chemotherapy).
 
Medicare wants you to use G0357 to report push technique chemo in 2005; that means you should not report 96408 (Chemotherapy administration, intravenous; push technique) to Medicare for push technique chemo in 2005. (However, you should continue to report 96408 to private carriers for push technique chemo.)
 
Here is a list of the new HCPCS codes for Medicare, and the existing procedure codes that correspond (where applicable). Data comes from Federal Register's Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule 2005. When reporting these procedures to Medicare in 2005, use the "New HCPCS Code" instead of the "Existing Procedure Code."