Primary Care Coding Alert

Question: We have a patient whose portacatheter is cleaned monthly with saline followed by heparin. How do I code for this service?

Deborah Cox
Bangor, Maine

Answer: It is most likely that the patient is being seen for an office visit at the time of this service, and so it will be bundled into the evaluation and management code assigned. You would also need to specify the appropriate HCPCS J code for the material injected. For instance, you may assign J1644 (injection, heparin sodium, per 1,000 units) for heparin.