Effective: May 1, 2007
This article provides guidelines to submitting claims for chemotherapy administration into the pleural cavity without thoracentesis and without peritoneocentesis. Because cavity chemotherapy administration may serve as the primary code for subsequent methods of chemotherapy and diagnostic administration, follow the following instructions for these services:
For patients who require administration of a chemotherapeutic drug/biologic into the pleural cavity without thoracentesis, submit the following codes:
For patients who require administration of a chemotherapeutic drug/biologic into the peritoneal cavity without peritoneocentesis, submit the following codes:
- CPT code 96445: Chemotherapy administration into peritoneal cavity, requiring and including peritoneocentesis
- Append CPT code 96445 with the CPT 52 modifier to indicate a reduced service
- Enter 'peritoneocentesis NOT performed' in the narrative note field
- Select the appropriate HCPCS code for the drug administered
- Select appropriate code(s) for secondary administration, as applicable