March 22, 2006
IVIG Supply Index represents FFF's aggregate inventory of all IVIG products for our customers who have established product allocations with us. Red represents 21 days supply or less, yellow is 22 to 29 days, green is 30 days supply or more.

Red represents 21 days supply or less, yellow is 22 to 29 days, green is 30 days supply or more.

From the International
Herald Tribune
Fake drugs are creating real
dangers for consumers  LINK...

From the White House
President Bush Signs the Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured Goods Act  LINK...

From the Post Gazette
Hospitals take steps against bacteria  LINK...

From RFID Journal
Congress Weighs Drug Anticounterfeiting Bill  LINK...





FFF Receives Exclusive Flu Vaccine Contract with California

FFF is pleased to announce our exclusive influenza vaccine distribution contract with the State of California, Department of General Services Procurement Division, for the 2006-2007 flu season.

"We are honored to receive an exclusive contract with the State of California for a second year," said Patrick M. Schmidt, president and CEO of FFF Enterprises. "The trust this agreement represents in FFF's secure flu vaccine supply channel and our responsible pricing means a lot to our entire team. We are pleased to have the opportunity to once again help safeguard the health of state employees, and those they serve, in our home state."

FFF's Guaranteed Channel Integrity protects flu vaccine and patients who receive it from the risks of counterfeiting, tampering, mishandling and irresponsible pricing inherent in secondary and gray channels.












Medicare IVIG Providers: New Q2 2006 IVIG Payment Rates
The new 2nd quarter 2006 Medicare IVIG payment rates — applicable for April 1 through June 30 — have been released.

2006 Codes
Description
Q2 Rate per 500 mg
Q2 Rate per 1 gram
J1566
Immune globulin, IV, powder, 500 mg
$22.26
$44.52
J1567
Immune globulin, IV, liquid, 500 mg
$29.09
$58.18
       1st quarter 2006 Medicare payment rates: $22.22 per 500 mg (J1566) and $28.36 per 500 mg (J1567)

The new 2nd payment rates continue to apply for both Medicare Part B providers and hospital outpatient clinics.

New 2006 IVIG, Infusion and Preadministration Billing Codes

For your insurance claims effective January 1, please be sure you have updated your billing systems with the new codes for IVIG product, IV infusion service and a special IVIG "preadministration" service. Medicare has created the new codes to reimburse for IVIG infusion therapy provided by physicians and hospitals in 2006.
  1. New 2006 IVIG product billing codes for physician, hospital (inpatient and outpatient) and home infusion providers

    Two permanent 500 mg "J" codes have now replaced the temporary "Q" codes, which applied in 2005 for billing IVIG.

    The 2006 IVIG product codes are:

2006 Codes
Description
Units
J1566
Immune globulin, IV, powder
500 mg
J1567
Immune globulin, IV, liquid
500 mg
  1. New 2006 IVIG preadministration billing code

    This new IVIG-specific service code is applicable to every 2006 IVIG infusion provided to Medicare beneficiaries in the hospital outpatient and physician office settings. The code does not apply to the homecare setting.

    The 2006 IVIG preadministration code is:

Code
Description
Medicare average payment rate
G0332*
Preadministration-related services for IV infusion of immunoglobulin, per infusion encounter
$75 hospital outpatient
$69 physician office
      *G0332 may not be considered a covered service by non-Medicare insurers; Medicare rates vary locally.

  1. New 2006 IVIG and other non-chemotherapy IV infusion billing codes

    Starting January 1, hospital and physician office settings each must bill with separate, new infusion billing codes for IVIG and other IV-administered non-chemotherapeutic drugs.

    The 2006 IVIG IV infusion codes are:

                              Hospital codes
    New 2006 HCPCS code
    Description
    C8950*
    IV infusion for therapy, diagnosis; up to 1 hour
    C8951
    each additional hour (list separately in addition to C8950)
                              *For Medicare claims, this procedure code assigns to APC 0120

                              Physician offices/clinic codes
    New 2006 CPT code
    Description
    90765
    IV infusion, for therapy, prophylaxis or diagnosis (specify drug);
    initial, up to 1 hr
    90766
    each additional hour, up to 8 hours (list separately in addition to
    code for primary procedure)

NOTE: Home infusion providers should bill insurers in accordance with your provider agreements.

What your IVIG infusion claim should include:
  • The number of 500 mg units of IVIG product (J1566 or J1567; lyophilized or liquid)
  • G0332 (IVIG preadministration service code)
  • Applicable IV drug infusion code(s)

Under Medicare Part B, physicians and hospitals may also bill for any "significant and separately identifiable" evaluation and management service performed at a level 2, 3, 4 or 5 in association with the infusion encounter (append modifier –25 to the CPT code for the E/M service).
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