Question

As a general rule, items are considered non-billable if they are included in the general

cost of the room in which the patient resides, the procedure is performed, or services are rendered. Items that

are integral to the performance of the procedure or service are considered billable. Furthermore, supplies that

can be purchased in bulk and stored on the floor are considerate routine and therefore non-billable. The

Medicare Claims Processing Manual and Provider Reimbursement Manual provide the following guidance with

regard to supply items:

?? Are they directly identifiable to a specific patient?

?? Where they ordered by a physician because of a specific medical need?

?? Are they either not reusable or do they represent a cost for each preparation?

?? Is the equipment available to patients in a particular setting or for use during the course of a

procedure?

Using these guidelines, identify which of the following items are billable and which are non-billable:

• Hospital bed

• Catheter

• Gloves

• Syringes

• Pacemaker lead

• Reusable trays

• Bedpans

• IV tubing

• Respirators

• Suction machines

• Hemodialysis equipment

• Implants

Answer 1

-Equipments which are available to the patient in a setting is considered routine and not billed separetely ,though it may be used for doing a procedure or is rented by the hospital. Routine services are added to the general cost of the room and cannot be billed separately and it includes drapes and reusable items.

• Hospital Bed-Non billable
• catheter-Billable
• Gloves-Non billable
• Syringes--Non billable
• Pacemaker lead-Billable
• Reusable trays-Non billable
• Bedpans-Non billable
• IV tubing-Non billable
• Respirators-Nonbillable
• Suction machines-Nonbillable
• Haemodialysis equipment-Non billable
• Implants-Billable