Billing and Coding: Hydration Services

CPT 96360 (initial 31–60 minutes) and 96361 (each additional hour) cover IV hydration using pre-packaged fluids for patients with documented dehydration or volume loss when IV therapy is clinically necessary and cannot be achieved by oral hydration. Documentation must include a same-day clinical assessment, supporting labs, and infusion start/stop times (minimum 31 minutes), and the codes must not be used for drug infusions, diluents, IV line patency, routine maintenance fluids, electrolyte-only replacement, or hydration integral to surgery; physician billing is limited to office (POS 11) settings.

"Use CPT 96360 (initial 31 minutes–1 hour) and 96361 (each additional hour) to report IV hydration consisting of pre-packaged fluids with or without electrolytes for patients presenting with dehydra..."

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