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Internal Medicine Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Code 90782 Multiple Times

Published on Tue Jul 01, 2003

Question: When using 90782 for injection administration, can I use this multiple times with multiple injections or only once?

New Jersey Subscriber

Answer: Code 90782 (Therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic injection ...; subcutaneous or intramuscular) is only reimbursed if there are no other services payable for that patient encounter. If the physician provides other services, injections are bundled into the physician services. When he administers a noncovered drug, both the drug and administration are noncovered. 
 
Some coders recommend that you report 90782 for each injection given. For example, suppose a nurse administers two separate injections of vitamin B12 and iron. You should report 90782 x 2.
 
However, Medicare and other local medical review policies will pay this only once per encounter, regardless of how many injections were given. If commercial insurance pays this multiple times, you should use modifier 76 (Repeat procedure by same physician) on the second code.
 
For example, First Coast Florida LMRP specifies that you can report multiple administrations with chemotherapy administration only if two separate IV routes are established.

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