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Question: We are billing Medicare for a chemotherapy infusion. The patient received an infusion of leucovorin mixed with 1000 cc of D5W. My question is this: Is the D5W billable? Is it appropriate to bill J0640 with J7070?

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Answer: Under Medicare rules, you may not bill for hydration when 鈥渢he fluid [is] used to administer the drug(s). Medicare regards this as 鈥渋ncidental hydration and is not separately payable鈥� (, 30.5.C).

In other words, 鈥淲hen fluids are used solely to administer the drugs, i.e. the fluid is merely the vehicle for the drug administration, the administration of the fluid is considered incidental hydration and not separately billable,鈥� according to the Medicare Coverage Database article 鈥�.鈥�

So, Medicare considers the hydration included with the infusion service that accompanies J0640 (Injection, leucovorin calcium, per 50 mg), and you cannot report J7070 (Infusion, D5W, 1000 cc) separately in this case.

However, the Medicare Coverage Database article goes on to note, 鈥淚f documentation supports a clinical condition that warrants hydration, other than one brought about by the requirements of a procedure, the hydration may be separately billable.鈥� The hydration service would have to last at least 31 minutes, excluding any time when running concurrently with drug infusions, in order to be reported.