General Question for the Week of February 1, 2021

Question:

What are the documentation requirements to bill for hydration?

Answer:

To bill for hydration, the physician order must support the therapy with the medical indication for it (e.g., the sign, symptom, or disease the therapy will treat). Such documentation might include notations of the sign or symptoms of severe nausea and vomiting, treatment for a patient who presents with an electrolyte balance, or another diagnosis supporting the therapy. Clinical documentation should also indicate the fluid administered, volume, and rate for infusion.