FAQs
Coding of Professional Hydration Infusion Services
Q: What does LYNX recommend?
A: Although, nothing in CPT specifically states a particular specialty group cannot assign the service, based on the information developed by the CPT Advisory Panel concerning these codes it appears that they were not intended for ED use. We recommend that physician groups query their major payers and get their payment policy in writing if they want to start or continue coding and billing for hydration infusion services.
Q: We are paid based on a percent of total charges, why shouldn’t we assign these services?
A: The physician whose name the code is billed under is ultimately responsible that the correct services are being reported. Enough questions exist regarding EDP assigning these services that there is concern that an adverse outcome in an audit situation could result.
Q: Am I going to have to pay back hydration services that were assigned in 2006?
A: Payment practices for individual payers vary greatly. Lynx believes that the information published in 2006 by CPT and the statement in the December 2006 cpt Assistant newsletter; “There are no CPT guidelines published in the 2006 CPT codebook to prohibit emergency physicians form reporting hydration, infusion and injections codes” will ultimately protect physicians groups from having to payback any services.
Q: How much revenue will be lost if we discontinue assigning hydration infusions?
A: LYNX does not have access to what individual payers reimburse (or if they reimburse) for these services. You will have to contact your billing company to have them assist you by providing this information. LYNX can provide you with data as to how many times the service was coded in 2006 and the amount that was charged.
The information contained herein is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and nothing contained herein should be construed as advice. All information contained herein is obtained by LYNX Medical Systems (LYNX) from sources believed by LYNX to be accurate and reliable. Because of the possibility of human and mechanical error as well as other factors, LYNX is not responsible for any errors or omissions. LYNX makes no representations and disclaims all expressed, implied, and statutory warranties of any kind to user and/or any third party including warranties as to accuracy, timeliness, completeness, merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose.