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Saline Solution Vital to Health: Medicare Negates

MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Feb 11 7:15pm | Replies (15)

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Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sueinmn

@pawster According to Medicare logic (not mine) any substance dispensed by a piece of durable medical equipment, covered under Part B Medicare, also falls under Part B, Medical, not under Part D , Prescription Medication.
Saline is covered, along with nebulized solutions. I don't have access to my previous messages right now, but there is a document that explains the codesmwhich must be used, then it is covered 80%. Look at the 7% saline discussion to find the link. It is all in how the doctor codes it. Because my supplement covers my 20%, when the pharmacy codes it correctly my copay is minimal.
The people at Medicare explained that it falls into the same class as saline used to flush IV PICC lines, and is classed as a supply for durable medical equipment.

If you ever helped draft Federal Regulations, as I did in my career, nothing would surprise you. The underlying rules, which have evolved over 100 years, are arcane and incomprehensible. Then the public gets to comment, and the lawyers get to emend. The end result is always a surprise to those who do the initial draft.
Sue

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Replies to "@pawster According to Medicare logic (not mine) any substance dispensed by a piece of durable medical..."

@sueinmn Sue-- I tried to find the "7% saline discussion to find the link" but without success.
Questions:
Are you still able to secure your saline for nebulizing with Original Medicare and the Supplement?
Do I understand fully ....the saline which is to flush the IV PICC lines is the same saline we need for nebulizing.... and that the doctor needs to order it in 4ml 7% if that is what one is to use for a patients BE treatment.??
Does that saline come stating Hypertonic or Sodium Chloride saline?
My last order has a $60.00 price tag vs the orders before were either four dollars and change, and then jumped to ten dollars in change. Going to $60.00 is a big difference.
Barbara