Reader Question: Catheter Flushes

Question: Our office has been administering more and more catheter flushes. Im not sure that our payers understand the necessity of this procedure. What are the codes we should use to better our chances of getting reimbursed for this procedure?

Florida Subscriber

Answer: You are going to have a very difficult time obtaining reimbursement for the use of catheter flushes. If recent experience is a guide, its almost impossible to get paid for administering this procedure. However, remember that administration of a normal saline solution (NSS) is a reimbursable item. If the nurse is flushing multiple times, cleaning the entry site and using the sterile saline solution, youll want to use the usual and customary code: J7040 for NSS, 0.9%, 500 cc. You also may use code 96542 for a port flush.


- Published on 2000-05-01