Time Isn't the Only Factor When Selecting IV Drug Infusion Codes  

Category: Coding

There's more to infusion coding than merely watching the clock. There are other factors you have to take into consideration, including the purpose of the infusion, the drug involved and other services provided before, during and after.

According to Dorland's Medical Dictionary, an infusion is "the therapeutic introduction of a fluid other than blood, as saline solution, into a vein." This is different from an injection in that an infused fluid flows in via an in-office pump that a nurse sets to deliver the drug at a measured rate or as a result of gravity, whereas an injected substance is forced in by applying pressure to a syringe's plunger.

When coding for drug infusion services, there are several key factors that you have to take into consideration:

• Infusion time
• Recognizing the "initial" service
• Reporting sequential infusions
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