Intravenous Therapy - Common Therapies

Hydration Therapy

Hydration therapy involves intravenous fluid replacement for a patient whose fluids are depleted by poor oral intake or other conditions, such as hyperemesis, causing fluid loss. Hydration therapy generally is used when treating terminally ill patients in lieu of hospitalization, as well as for treating patients with nausea and vomiting of such severity and duration that the patient suffers systemic effects, such as acidosis, dehydration and weight loss.

Note: Do not bill hydration therapy separately when it is administered at the same time as chemotherapy or another therapeutic service. Hydration therapy should be billed separately only when it is administered before or after the chemotherapy treatment or other therapeutic service.

Pamidronate (Aredia) Therapy

Aredia is infused intravenously to treat hypercalcemia caused by chemotherapy treatments. Patients may receive Aredia on the same day as chemotherapy. When billing Aredia, include the appropriate diagnosis code, revenue code and procedure code on the claim.

Intravenous Immune Gammaglobulin Therapy

Although initially used for immune deficiency states, intravenous immune gammaglobulin (IVIG) therapy also has been used as a prophylactic and/or therapeutic reagent in a variety of other conditions, such as idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) and Kawasaki syndrome. HMSA adheres to FDA-approved guidelines regarding indications, dosage, duration and frequency of IVIG therapy. IVIG therapy must be precertified. See Intravenous Immune Globulin (IVIG) for more information.

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