Q&A: Medicare charging and documentation

Q: Our facility is evaluating the pros and cons of charge on dispense vs. charge on administration for medications. Are there any best practices or guidelines for medication charging and documentation?

A: Our health system recently changed our pharmacy charging mechanism from dispense to administration. We now have better documentation from nursing and eliminated the need for pharmacy cart reconciliation and drug credits. Be aware that this change can impact your pharmacy budget.

Note: This question can be found in the chargemaster and charge capture section on the NAHRI Forums where you can find answers to questions on a variety of topics from billing and claims to compliance to reimbursement.