Chemotherapy administration fee on Remicade infusion

Administration of remicade involves the medication which is 2/3 or 3/4 of tthe total cost and is reimbursable via the RemiStart copay assistance program. You are charged for the nurses time to administer the medication, which is not reimbursable by remistart. There is typically a charge for the 1st hour and a separate charge for 2 additional hours. Yes they might be called chemotherapy administration and that covers and medication given via IV.

A typical bill might include (from a bill a few months ago)
Code 96413 ( Infusion first hour);
Code 96415 X 2 ( two additional hours);
Code J1745 X 40 units (Remicade 400 mg).
Possibly a charge for the saline/IV solution.
Possibly a charge for the IV pump.

I looked at my very last remicade bill and it was $7,000 for the remicade medicine and $785 for what they called Surgery, which I assume is the nurse's time.

Usually a deductible is in place and you will quickly meet it during the first infusion or two, afterwards tge insurance pays it. Ask your insurance company for clarification, call with you EOB (explaination of benefits) from that procedure inhand and with billing codes. Just to be sure.

it does sound like the iv-admin fee is high. should be half that. check if there is an infusion center instead of hospital. might be cheaper.

or if you have insurance, them might write off half and then you pay 20%-copay of what remains.

So looks like it is for nurse time although it looks still expensive.

Thank you all!