Wiki Hydration Billing Question

rsinoben

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I have a hydration billing question that I just can't seem to find definitive guidance on....

Lets say we have a patient that's comes in and the records reads along these lines:

Saline 1000MG 0900am-125

Other drug (any kind of chemo) 0932-1032

other drug (A therapeutic drug) 1033-1245

Here is how I have been billing: Other drug (chemo) 0932-1032=60 min =96413
Other drug (therapeutic) 1033-1245=2.12 =96367 and 96366
Hydration= 09-932=.31 + 1245-125+.40 = 1.11 =96361


Is this correct or would each chunk of hydration stand on it's own making the correct billing 96361X2???

Please Help!
 
Also remember that you have to have a medically necessary ordered reason to bill for the hydration.
We have a client that orders "pre-hydration" but then starts the meds within 15 minutes of starting the saline. In this case, they only gave 15 minutes "pre" therefore we won't bill for it even if there is more time during or after.
If the reason you are giving it is strictly for dehydration, then it's fine to combine all times between your other drugs.
The main thing come down to what is ordered and how they word it.
 
CMS states in the Hydration therapy policy (L34960) that when the sole purpose of the saline administration is to maintain the patency of the access device, the infusion is neither diagnostic or therapeutic; therefore, not billable as hydration therapy.

Also states hanging of fluids prior to administration of chemotherapy is not hydration therapy

I would review the orders for this treatment but most likely the fluids given are just given in the course of the chemotherapy infusion and not hydration therapy.
 
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