Primary Care Coding Alert

Question: Is it allowable for us to bill 90782 (therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic injection [specify material injected]; subcutaneous or intramuscular), along with a J code such as J1100 (injection, dexamethosone sodium phosphate, up to 4 mg/ml)?

Teri Marshall
Cartersville, Ga.

Answer: Yes, this is allowable. According to CPT coding guidelines and most payer guidelines, the injection and the drug administered are reported separately. In the above example, 90782 is reported for the administration. Level II HCPCS code J1100 is reported to those payers who recognize this level of codes. For those payers who do not recognize HCPCS codes, 99070 (supplies and materials) can be reported. Because this code is nonspecific, the name of the drug and the dosage administered must be indicated on the claim.

Dexamethosone sodium phosphate is injected intramuscularly to treat acute self-limiting allergic reactions or acute exacerbation of a chronic allergic disorder in an effort to reduce the allergic reaction in the patient.