Wiki Saline bags used for chemotherapy

[DEANNAHUFF]

There is a dispute going on in our office regarding the saline bags used to mix and deliver chemotherapy and pre meds. I am under the impression we can not bill for the saline bags when used for mixing and delivering drugs. Our nurse mngr thinks we can. Does anyone have any information on this.

Thanks,
Dee, CPC

 

[donsqueen]

I cannot find anything to specifically refute your nrs mgr's claim. I ran J7030 through encoderpro with a few different chemo drugs and no cci edits were applied. HOWEVER, the description encoderpro gives for J7030 specifically states saline is used to treat dehydration. I am inclined to go with you that it is included in the chemotherapy charge. Although I don't see payments from insurance companies in my current position, when I did, we were only reimbursed about $5 on saline when we were reimbursed. You could do a trial and bill it out and see what you get back, but I sincerely doubt it would be worth the labor costs to do so.