Why weren NHIAs HIEC codes approved under HIPAA?
One goal of HIPAA was to streamline all coding for all health care services within a very short list of well-established coding systems. The HIPAA regulations recognized standardization where it already existed, and established processes and timetables for promoting standardization where it did not exist. Under the HIPAA framework set up by HHS, home infusion therapy participants were directed to approach the coding administers for the approved HCPCS and CPT code sets to resolve the “coding gaps”. The final solution put into the HCPCS and CPT code sets by their administrators incorporated much of the structure of the HIEC coding system. While there are some differences, in reality much of the HIEC code system was “approved” for HIPAA when incorporated into HCPCS and CPT. Some even call the HCPCS “per diem” codes “the HIEC codes”. Use of the HCPCS “per diem” and CPT home nursing codes will bring standardization to home infusion therapy, as it already exists in physician billing and othe
