Article - Billing and Coding: Allergy Immunotherapy (A57472)

This does not mean that the physician must remove 1 cc aliquot doses from a multidose vial. It means that the practice expenses payable for the preparation of a 10cc vial remain the same irrespective of the size or number of aliquots removed from the vial. Therefore, a physician may not bill this vial preparation code for more than 10 doses per vial; paying more than 10 doses per multidose vial would significantly overpay the practice expense component attributable to this service. (NOTE: this code does not include the injection of antigen(s); injection of antigen(s) is separately billable.)When a multidose vial contains less than 10cc, physicians should bill Medicare for the number of 1 cc aliquots that may be removed from the vial. That is, a physician may bill Medicare up to a maximum of 10 doses per multidose vial, but should bill Medicare for fewer than 10 doses per vial when there is less than 10cc in the vial.If it is medically necessary, physicians may bill Medicare for preparation of more than one multidose vial.EXAMPLES:(1) If a 10cc multidose vial is filled to 6cc with antigen, the physician may bill Medicare for 6 doses since six 1cc aliquots may be removed from the vial.(2) If a 5cc multidose vial is filled completely, the physician may bill Medicare for 5 doses for this vial.(3) If a physician removes  cc aliquots from a 10cc multidose vial for a total of 20 doses from one vial, he/she may only bill Medicare for 10 doses. Billing for more than 10 doses would mean that Medicare is overpaying for the practice expense of making the vial.(4) If a physician prepares two 10cc multidose vials, he/she may bill Medicare for 20 doses. However, he/she may remove aliquots of any amount from thosevials.For example, the physician may remove  aliquots from one vial, and 1cc aliquots from the other vial, but may bill no more than a total of 20 doses.(5) If a physician prepares a 20cc multidose vial, he/she may bill Medicare for 20 doses, since the practice expense is calculated based on the physicians removing 1cc aliquots from a vial. If a physician removes 2cc aliquots from this vial, thus getting only 10 doses, he/she may nonetheless bill Medicare for 20 doses because the PE for 20 doses reflects the actual practice expense of preparing the vial.(6) If a physician prepares a 5cc multidose vial, he may bill Medicare for 5 doses, based on the way that the practice expense component is calculated. However, if the physician removes ten  cc aliquots from the vial, he/she may still bill only 5 doses because the practice expense of preparing the vial is the same, without regard to the number of additional doses that are removed from the vial.Allergy Shots and Visit Services on the Same DayAt the outset of the physician fee schedule, the question was posed as to whether visits should be billed on the same day as an allergy injection (CPT codes 95115-95117), since these codes have status indicators of A rather than T. Visits should not be billed with allergy injection services 95115 or 95117 unless the visit represents another separately identifiable service. This language parallels CPT editorial language that accompanies the allergen immunotherapy codes, which include codes 9515 and 95117. Prior to January 1, 1995, you appeared to be enforcing this policy through three (3) different means:Advising physician to use modifier 25 with the visit service;Denying payment for the visit unless documentation has been provided; andPaying for both the visit and the allergy shot if both are billed for.For services rendered on or after January 1, 1995, you are to enforce the requirement that visits not be billed and paid for on the same day as an allergy injection through the following means. Effective for services rendered on or after that date, the global surgery policies will apply to all codes in the allergen immunotherapy series, including the allergy shot codes 95115 and 95117. To accomplish this, CMS changed the global surgery indicator for allergen immunotherapy codes from XXX, which meant that the global surgery concept did not apply to those codes, to 000, which means that the global surgery concept applies, but that there are no days in the postoperative global period.Now that the global surgery policies apply to these services, you are to rely on the use of modifier 25 as the only means through which you can make payment for visit services provided on the same day as allergen immunotherapy services. In order for a physician to receive payment for a visit service provided on the same day that the physician also provides a service in the allergen immunotherapy series (i.e., any service in the series from 95115 through 95199), the physician is to bill a modifier 25 with the visit code,indicating that thepatients condition required a significant, separately identifiable visit service above and beyond the allergen immunotherapy service provided.Evaluation and Management services are allowed in addition to 95115 or 95117 only when separately identifiable services are provided at the same time.CPT codes 95115 (single injection) and 95117 (multiple injections) reflect the professional administration (injection) of the allergenic extract, when the extract is not included in the code descriptor. They do not include the provision or preparation of the extract. For example: An allergist provides a patient with an allergenic extract. The patient brings the extract to a family or primary care practitioner who administers the injection(s). Do not bill CPT code 95115 and 95117 if the antigen is self-administered by the patient. Bill one CPT code 95115 or 95117 per date of service (DOS) and 1 unit in Box 24-G, days, or unit field. Do not bill CPT code 95115 and 95117 on the same DOS.Use CPT procedure codes 95115 or 95117 and the appropriate CPT procedure code from the range 95145-95170 when reporting both the injection and the antigen/antigen preparation service (complete service). These instructions also apply to allergists who provide both services through the use of treatment boards.CPT code 95165 includes single OR multiple antigens preparation but not the administration of the injection(s). Therefore, when a physician prepares the allergenic extract(s) (same or different antigens) and administers the extract(s) using single or multiple injections, code 95165 should be reported in addition to either 95115 or 95117. To bill for 95165, the number of doses must be designated.If a physician prepares the allergen and administers the injection on the same DOS, bill the appropriate injection code (CPT codes 95115 or 95117) AND the appropriate preparation (single dose) code (CPT codes 95145-95170). For billing, need to specify the number of doses in the days/units field.CPT code 95170 canonlybe used for billing for fire ant extract.A single dose vial contains a single dose of antigen administered in one injection.For allergy immunotherapy reporting, a dose is the amount of antigen(s) administered in a single injection from a multiple dose vial. If a multi-dose vial contains less than 10 cc, bill the number of 1 cc aliquots that may be removed from the vial up to a maximum of 10 doses per multi-dose vial. If medically necessary, physicians may bill for preparation of more than one multi-dose vial. The reason(s) it is medically necessary must be documented in the medical record.Claims for maintenance allergy immunotherapy require the EJ modifier.Coding GuidelinesAllergen immunotherapy is divided into codes that describe the injection only and codes that describe the preparation of the antigen to be delivered for injection by a different physician.See NCCI edits inNational Correct Coding Initiative Policy Manual for Medicare Services, Chapter 11 - Medicine Evaluation and Management Services for CPT Codes 90000-99999, Section K  Allergy Testing and Immunotherapy, 4.In general allergy testing is not performed on the same day as allergy immunotherapy in standard medical practice. Allergy testing is performed prior to immunotherapy to determine the offending allergens. CPT codes for allergy testing and immunotherapy are generally not reported on the same date of service unless the physician provides allergy immunotherapy and testing for additional allergens on the same day. Physicians should not report allergy testing CPT codes for allergen potency (safety) testing prior to administration of immunotherapy. Confirmation of the appropriate potency of an allergen vial for immunotherapy is an inherent component of immunotherapy. Additionally, allergy testing is an integral component of rapid desensitization kits (CPT code 95180) and is not separately reportable.Codes 95115-95199 include the professional services necessary for allergen immunotherapy. Office visits codes may be used in addition to allergen immunotherapy if other identifiable services are provided at the same time.The HCPCS/CPT code(s) may be subject to Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) edits. This policy does not take precedence over CCI edits. Please refer to the CCI for correct coding guidelines and specific applicable code combinations prior to billing Medicare.CPT codes 95120 through 95134 are not valid for Medicare. Codes 95120 through 95134 represent complete services, i.e., services that include both the injection service as well as the antigen and its preparation.(CMS Pub 100-04Medicare Claim Processing Manual, Chapter 12  Physicians/Nonphysician Practitioners, Section 200 - Allergy Testing and Immunotherapy.Use CPT procedure codes 95144-95170 (provision of antigens) to report the antigen/antigen preparation service (professional services) when this is the only service rendered by the physician.Which code is used is based on the specific type of antigen provided:CPT code 95144 is used to report antigens, other than stinging insect. Use this code to report single dose vials. Use this code only when the allergist actually prepares the extract. Code 95144 (single dose vials of antigen) should be reported only if the physician providing the antigen is providing it to be injected by someone other than himself/herself. If this code is mistakenly reported in conjunction with an injection (95115 or 95117), payment will be made under code 95165.CPT procedure code 95165 is used to report multiple dose vials of non-venom antigens. Effective January 1, 2001, for CPT code 95165, a dose is now defined as a one- (1) cc aliquot from a single multidose vial. When billing code 95165, providers should report the number of units representing the number of 1 cc doses being prepared. A maximum of 10 doses per vial is allowed for Medicare billing, even if more than ten preparations are obtained from the vial. In cases where a multidose vial is diluted, Medicare should not be billed for diluted preparations in excess of the 10 doses per vial allowed under code 95165.CPT procedure codes 95145-95149 and 95170 are used to report stinging insect venoms. Venom doses are prepared in separate vials and not mixed together -except in the case of the three vespid mix (white and yellow hornets and yellow jackets). Use the code within the range that is appropriate to the number of venoms provided. If a code for more than one venom is reported, some amount of each of the venoms must be provided. Use of a code below the venom treatment number for the particular patient should occur only for the purpose of catching upThe antigen codes (95144-95170) are considered single dose codes. To report these codes, specify the number of doses provided.Use CPT procedure code 95180 (rapid desensitization) when sensitivity to a drug has been established and treatment with the drug is essential. This procedure will also require frequent monitoring and skin testing. The number of hours involved in desensitization must be reported in the unit field.Place of ServiceCPT procedure codes 95115 and 95117 are payable only in an office setting.CPT procedure codes 95144 and 95145-95170 are payable in the office and outpatient hospital (off-campus/on-campus) settings. These codes are also payable in a skilled nursing facility, but only if the physician is present.CPT procedure code 95180 is payable in office, outpatient hospital (off-campus / on-campus), inpatient hospital, and emergency room settings.AntigensEffective January 1, 1981, payment may be made for a reasonable supply of antigens that have been prepared for a particular patient even though they have not been administered to the patient by the same physician who prepared them if:The antigens are prepared by a physician who is a doctor of medicine or osteopathy, andThe physician who prepared the antigens has examined the patient and has determined a plan of treatment and a dosage regimen.A reasonable supply of antigens is considered to be not more than a 12-month supply of antigens that has been prepared for a particular patient at any one time.(CMS Pub 100-02Medicare Benefit Policy Manual,Chapter 16  General Exclusions from Coverage, Section 90  Routine Services and Appliances, B. Antigens, Rev. 186, Issued: 04-16-2014,the purpose of the reasonable supply limitation is to assure that the antigens retain their potency and effectiveness over the period in which they are to be administered to the patient.(See the CMS PubMedicare Benefit Policy Manual,Chapter 15, Covered Medical and Other Health Services, 50.4.4.1).