Checkout New Options For Lymph Cancer Drug

By Author: Angela Martin
Total Articles: 206
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Starting January 2011, you will have three new J codes for leukemia and lymphoma treatments available for use.


J9302 answers call for Arzerra Code


If you provide Arzerra injections, take note of this new code. Oncologists normally use the medication to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia in adults who haven't responded satisfactorily to fludarabine or alemtuzumab.


As the suffix - mab in ofatumumab points to, this medication is a monoclonal antibody.


Remember: Earlier, hospitals had a C code available for this agent, C9260 (Injection, ofatumumab, 10 mg). HCPCS 2011 does away with this code.


For Folotyn, train eyes on J9307


This new J code (Injection, pralatrexate, 1 mg) for 2011 is just right for Folotyn. Oncologists normally use this folate analogue metabolic inhibitor to kill cancer cells in patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma that hasn't responded to other medications or has returned.


The new HCPCS codes also delete the C code available to hospitals for this drug, C9259 (Injection, pralatrexate, ...
... 1 mg).


For Romidepsin, flip to J9315


If your documentation shows your practice supplied Istodax, you have J9315 (Injection, romidepsin, 1 mg) at your service in the coming year. The drug is a histone deacetylase inhibitor that decreases the growth of cancer cells. It is intended for use in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma who've been treated earlier with another drug.


This year, hospitals use C9265 (Injection, romidepsin, 1 mg) for this drug; however in the new year, HCPCS deletes this code.


For more on the latest HCPCS codes and how they affect your oncology coding, Medical coding, sign up for an audio conference and stay informed.