Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

Tap these resources on Medicare's oral anti-emetic policy.If your practice reports oral anti-emetics, be sure you're up on the latest ondansetron coding news or you could start seeing denials.This drug received a new HCPCS code, effective Jan. 1, 2012: Q0162 (Ondansetron 1 mg, oral, FDA approved prescription anti-emetic, for use as a complete therapeutic substitute for an IV anti-emetic at the time of chemotherapy treatment, not to exceed a 48 hour dosage regimen).To make room for this new code, HCPCS deleted Q0179 (Ondansetron hydrochloride 8 mg, oral, FDA approved prescription anti-emetic, for use as a complete therapeutic substitute for an IV anti-emetic at the time of chemotherapy treatment, not to exceed a 48 hour dosage regimen), says Janae Ballard, CPC, CPC-H, CPMA, CEMC, PCS, FCS, coding manager for The Coding Source.Bottom line: Reporting Q0179 for a 2012 date will bring an instant denial. You should use Q0162 instead.Zuplenz Factors Into [...]