What is a key policy to follow for drug wastage in chemotherapy coding?

In the context of chemotherapy coding, a key policy regarding drug wastage specifies that wastage should only be reported for single-dose vials. This policy is in place because single-dose vials are designed to be used once and any leftover medication from such vials becomes wastage when it is not used for the patient. Proper coding for drug wastage ensures that healthcare providers are reimbursed accurately for the medications administered during treatment while also adhering to billing guidelines.

By focusing specifically on single-dose vials, the coding policy helps maintain consistency in billing, minimizes the risk of over-reporting unused drugs, and aligns with regulations that discourage the reporting of wastage from multi-dose vials, where leftover medication can sometimes be appropriately stored for future patient use. This distinction is important for ensuring compliance with coding requirements and for proper financial management within healthcare practices.