Which coding system is used for chemotherapy and therapeutic drug supplies?

The coding system used for chemotherapy and therapeutic drug supplies is HCPCS Level II. This system is specifically designed to represent products, supplies, and services that are not covered by CPT codes, including drugs not typically administered in a physician's office. HCPCS Level II codes are used to identify various items such as durable medical equipment (DME), prosthetics, and non-oral medications, which includes chemotherapy drugs.

ICD-10 coding, in contrast, is focused on diagnosis codes and is used to indicate the reasons for patient encounters and the conditions being treated. CPT codes primarily represent medical procedures, professional services, and diagnostic tests performed by healthcare providers, but they do not encompass the actual pharmaceutical products used for treatment. DRG codes are related to hospital payment systems and classify inpatient services based on the diagnosis and treatment performed; they do not pertain largely to outpatient drug administration.

Thus, HCPCS Level II is critical for accurately coding and billing for chemotherapy and therapeutic drug supplies, ensuring appropriate reimbursement and compliance in medical billing practices.