Wiki Chemo and infusions

[Rani1616]

hi everyone I have a doubt am new to chemo
Pt has lung cancer reciving chemo therapy physician orders
1.Nacl 1000ml +kcl 20 meq 9.15 am to 3.20 pm
2.pepcid 20mg +dexamethasone 20mg ivpb 9.20 am to 9.40 am
3.alimta 9.50 am to 10.30 am
4.vitamin B12 sc at 11 am
5.Emend at 11 AM to 11.30. Am
6.pegfilgrastim 6mg on pro kit
Here my doubt whether I need to nacl with kcl as infusion or hydration?
Thank you all I hope that i will get clear this asap. Once again thank you for response

 

[trarut]

It depends. And you don't indicate if this is in a hospital or a free-standing physician office setting. I'm answering from the physician billing POV. Was the potassium added to the saline by your mix room OR was it purchased pre-mixed? I was taught that if it's pre-mixed, it's considered hydration even with the additive. If the potassium is added by the mix room, it is separately billable as a therapeutic infusion.

So at a minimum you can bill for the potassium. You can't bill for hydration given concurrently with the chemo (although you could make the argument for it in a denial if there is documentation of dehydration, nausea, vomiting, etc. Hydration time between 11:30 and 3:20 can be billed but whether it's a therapeutic infusion code or hydration code depends on the answer to my question above.

My opinion on the matter only, which is worth what you paid for it

 

[rachaelwilleford]

I agree with that opinon.