Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

Question: I saw an announcement about 230,000 new CCI edits. Are there any for infusions?

Connecticut Subscriber

Answer: Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) 18.3, effective Oct. 1, 2012, does feature more than 230,000 new edits. A large number of the edits focus on integumentary system codes in the 10000 range, so they shouldn't affect your day-to-day coding.

The latest CCI update adds about 100 edits bundling integumentary codes into intralesional chemo admin codes 96405 and 96406, pleural cavity chemo admin code 96440, and CNS chemo admin code 96450.

For instance, trunk repair code +13102 (Repair, complex, trunk; each additional 5 cm or less [List separately in addition to code for primary procedure]) is now bundled into all of the above listed 964xx codes with a modifier indicator of 1. The 1 means you may override the edit with a modifier when appropriate.

A much smaller number of the edits focus on nuclear medicine procedures. A couple of those edits affect infusion codes. Both edits have a modifier indicator of 0, so you may never override them.