Currently, many of our therapeutic injections (TI) are named with doses in them. This is to remind the providers and staff that they need to enter the correct number of billing units on the billing screen.
For example, Toradol (ketorolac) is billed in 15 mg units. In the TI window, we called it “Ketorolac per 15 mg”. But Toradol is typically given as either 30 mg or 60 mg. The provider order the drug and indicates in the order window if they want 30 or 60 mg given. The MA checks the dose, administers it, and completes the order with the Lot #, expiration, location, and changes the status to adminstered. This causes the charge to drop to the billing window.
But, it always drops 1 unit. It’s up to the provider or the billing office to catch it and update it to 2 or 4 units. Is there a way to make the correct number of units to drop to the bill?
I would like to make two Toradol therapeutic injections. Once called “Toradol 30 mg” which drops 2 units to the bill, and one called “Toradol 60mg” which drops 4 units.
This isn’t typically a problem for immunizations, because they usually only have 1 unit. But I strongly suspect we’re missing out on charges by not catching this problem. It’s a bigger issue for Rocephin (2, 4, or 8 units), Zofran (1,2, 4, units), Bicillin (6 or 12 units), or Depo-Provera (150 units!!!). More recently, we’ve had some allergists join our group. They infuse 40 units of immunoglobulin, at around $6000/vial. I’m gravely concerned that we’re going to bill out 1 unit @ $79, and miss some huge charges.
Also with the Toradol example, a 30 mg vial of Toradol has a different NDC than a 60 mg Toradol. If I could build the two doses of Toradol, I could ensure that the correct NDC was associated with each one as well.
I realize this was a long question, but if anyone has an answer, I’d be very appreciative.