You Be the Coder:
Ponder Proper Piggyback Codes
Published on Thu May 11, 2006
Question: If the patient receives an infusion of Zofran over 30 minutes and then there is a piggyback of Dexamethasone for 15 minutes in the same bag, is the Dex considered a push or a concurrent infusion?
Ohio Subscriber
Answer: The Dexamethasone administration is a push because it only took 15 minutes.
CPT defines a push as -a) an injection in which the healthcare professional who administers the substance/drug is continuously present to administer the injection and observe the patient, or b) an infusion of 15 minutes or less.-
What to do: Assuming the provider sets up a saline -flush bag,- connects the Zofran to the flush bag, and infuses the Zofran for 30 minutes and then pushes the Dex through the same flush bag, report:
- Zofran infusion--90765 (Intravenous infusion, for therapy, prophylaxis, or diagnosis [specify substance or drug]; initial, up to 1 hour)
- Zofran drug--J2405 (Injection, ondansetron HCl, per 1 mg)
- Dex push--+90775 (Therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic injection [specify substance or drug]; each additional sequential intravenous push of a new substance/drug)
- Dex drug--J1100 (Injection, dexamethasone sodium phosphate, 1 mg). Remember: Even if the Zofran and Dex run into the patient at the same time, this is not a concurrent infusion because the Dex admin is a push.