Anesthesia Coding Alert
You Be the Coder:
Is Blood Transfusion Bundled?
Published on Tue Apr 12, 2005
Question: Our "facility" has been reporting 36430 when our anesthesia providers perform the blood transfusion. Shouldn't the anesthesiologist bill for it instead, or is it bundled with other services?
Ohio Subscriber
Answer: Payers consider blood transfusion to be an integral part of the primary procedure being performed. As such, it's part of the anesthesia service and is not separately reimbursable. Payment for the technology is included in the facility's reimbursement for the main procedure (with 36430, Transfusion, blood or blood components).
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