Wiki Outpatient chemotherapy question

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bwerner

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Hello,

We have an outpatient service dept at our hospital where our Oncologist see's patients and chemo is administered. If a patient just comes in for chemo therapy and doesn't have an appointment with the Oncologist, our Oncologist wants to be reimbursed for being there and supervising the chemo incase of patient reaction etc. Can we charge for his time and supervision. Right now we charge the 96413 (technical fee only)...can we charge a professional fee also?
 
the 96413 is the administration fee which the facility will charge. There is no charge for the physician to just supervise the chemo in the outpatient setting.
 
jas0426 said:
Agree! If he wasn't there to supervise, the facility wouldn't be able to be bill either.

Jeni
Click to expand...

No the facility would bill the chemo and the admin charges even if that physician were not there. They do not need each physician to be there to supervise chemo for the facility to be able to bill the charges. The admin fee is for the nurse to admin the chemo and the facility is providing the drugs, there is nothing for the physician to be charging as it is all facility resources being used. The physician cannot charge an E&M either since this is scheduled chemo and the patient is getting the services they are scheduled for. If the chemo is being delivered in a physician office then the provider must be onsite to supervise and the admin charges are billed for the physician's nurse to administer the chemo.
Do not confuse the rules for physician billing with the facility as they are different.
 
Thank you for the information. That confirm the information that we received. Dr. Gibbs is usually onsite while the chemo is being administered.
 
Part 2 :eek:)

There is a work RVU's associated with the code 96413, so what would the physician have to do in order to charge or to get the RVU's associated with the 96413? Would he have to start the IV infusion? Is there something he could document that he could get the profee?

Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Becky
 
The work RVU gores to the facility as it is their nurse that is performing the work, the physician cannot charge for ordering this service nor for being in the facility while it is being performed
 
mitchellde said:
No the facility would bill the chemo and the admin charges even if that physician were not there. They do not need each physician to be there to supervise chemo for the facility to be able to bill the charges. The admin fee is for the nurse to admin the chemo and the facility is providing the drugs, there is nothing for the physician to be charging as it is all facility resources being used. The physician cannot charge an E&M either since this is scheduled chemo and the patient is getting the services they are scheduled for. If the chemo is being delivered in a physician office then the provider must be onsite to supervise and the admin charges are billed for the physician's nurse to administer the chemo.
Do not confuse the rules for physician billing with the facility as they are different.
Click to expand...

Agreed they are different. But for Outpatient, Provider Based infusion centers, facility services can only be billed "incident to" a physicians service. So physician supervision is required. They don't need to be in the room directly, but must be immediatly available. I might not have understood what you are trying to say, but maybe this will explain my thoughts better:

"Direct Supervision for Off-Campus PBDs Has Not Changed
CMS finalized without modification its proposal that, for off-campus PBDs, the physician or non-physician practitioner must be present in the off-campus PBD and immediately available to furnish assistance and direction throughout the performance of the procedure. The preamble points out that the direct supervision requirement for off-campus PBDs has not changed and reiterates long-standing policy that while the physician or non-physician must be in the off-campus PBD, the physician or non-physician practitioner does not need to be in the room where the procedure is being performed. Accordingly, a physician in a physician office would not meet this location requirement for an off-campus PBD in another part of the same building."
 
Physician Billing in Hospital Cancer Center

So, are we saying that the physician is not entitled to any reimbursement for spending time in the facility to be available (or supervise) these services? He/she has had to set up the dosing, possible make changes during the infusion and/or take action if there is any adverse reaction.
 
mitchellde said:
No the facility would bill the chemo and the admin charges even if that physician were not there. They do not need each physician to be there to supervise chemo for the facility to be able to bill the charges. The admin fee is for the nurse to admin the chemo and the facility is providing the drugs, there is nothing for the physician to be charging as it is all facility resources being used. The physician cannot charge an E&M either since this is scheduled chemo and the patient is getting the services they are scheduled for. If the chemo is being delivered in a physician office then the provider must be onsite to supervise and the admin charges are billed for the physician's nurse to administer the chemo.
Do not confuse the rules for physician billing with the facility as they are different.
Click to expand...
Debra do you have references for the physician billilng?
 
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