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January is National Blood Donor Month

Coding Educator, January 18, 2010

During the winter months our nation’s blood supply is traditionally lower due to the holidays, constant travel, inclement weather and illness. The American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), in conjunction with America’s Blood Centers and the American Red Cross, designated January “National Blood Donor Month” (NBDM) to encourage donors to give— or pledge to give— blood.

The goal of NBDM is to make sure that the supply of donor blood remains at a safe and necessary level in hospitals and emergency treatment facilities throughout the country. As donor qualifications become stricter, and as the donor population ages, the United States is at risk of a low blood supply.

Blood centers throughout the country aim to keep a three-day blood supply on hand at each facility, but with the uncertainty involving hospitals and emergencies, the supply can vary constantly. When the amount of blood drops below the three-day level, the centers begin to contact local donors to increase the inventory.

Approximately 39,000 units of blood are required each day at U.S. hospitals; in fact, someone in the United States needs blood every two seconds, according to the AABB. The amount of blood used each day by these facilities requires a daily need for additional donor blood throughout the country.

Creating a perpetual donor-blood center cycle is crucial due to the fact that blood and blood products are perishable, and donated red blood cells must be used within 42 days. Additionally, recipients with a certain blood type require either that specific blood type, or a Type O negative blood, which is universal for all types and further pushes the constant need for additional donor blood.

Coding for blood and blood products is something that is relatively straightforward, provided you are searching in the correct sections of the CPT manual. Looking in the index under the main term “Blood” is a good way to find the appropriate CPT code for the service that you’re rendering. From there, figure out what it is you are looking for:

• Find specific typing of the blood with codes 86900-86923
• The thawing of a fresh frozen unit of plasma is reported with code 86927
• For preparing a fresh frozen unit of blood, use codes 86930-86932
• Professional services for the transfusion of the blood or blood components can be found with codes 36430-36460
• Blood bank physician services are identified in the 86077-86079 code range. These are used for instances when physicians need to provide a written interpretation when anomalies arise prior to or after a transfusion.

If an individual is at least 17 years of age, weighs at least 110 pounds, and meets certain other donor requirements, they are eligible to give blood. One whole blood donation is approximately one pint of blood, and the human body contains 10 to 12 pints. The volume of fluids within your body adjusts within a few hours of a donation, and within a few weeks, the donated red blood cells regenerate. Just one single donation can save up to three lives. This January, help us observe NBDM and consider donating blood and encouraging others to do so as well.

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