Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

Question: A patient with reticulolymphosarcoma in the inguinal lymph nodes presents for a Mediport flush to our physician. The port was flushed per protocol and the procedure was non-incidental. How can we code for these services? 

Massachusetts Subscriber

Answer: Your physician is doing a port flush for the patient. You submit code 96523 (Irrigation of implanted venous access device for drug delivery systems) for these services.

Note: You submit the code 96523 as this is an independent service for the encounter described. If the flush is done along with chemotherapy administration, you would not submit code 96523.

Add diagnosis code: You also submit ICD-10-CM code C83.85 (Other non-follicular lymphoma, lymph nodes of inguinal region and lower limb) for reticulolymphosarcoma in the inguinal lymph nodes.