Summary & Overview
CPT 36440: Rapid Pediatric Blood Transfusion for Infants
CPT code 36440 designates a rapid blood transfusion for patients two years old or younger administered via injection device or syringe. Nationally, this code captures a specialized, time-sensitive pediatric procedure typically performed in neonatal or pediatric inpatient settings. It matters for billing and clinical documentation because it distinguishes a rapid, single-instance transfusion technique for infants from standard, slower transfusion methods used in older children and adults.
Key payers included in this analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical context for neonatal and infant transfusion, common billing considerations tied to this CPT code, and typical sites of service where the procedure is delivered. Benchmarks, payer coverage patterns, and any relevant policy updates or coding guidance that impact reimbursement and documentation practices are summarized.
The publication provides concise guidance on what the code represents, the clinical scenarios where it is used, and the practical billing elements that organizations and coders should track. Data not provided in the input—such as specific ICD-10 pairings, associated taxonomies, and payer-specific edits—is identified as unavailable for this summary.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 36440 describes a blood transfusion performed on a patient age two years or younger using an injection device or syringe, delivering blood all at once rather than as a slow infusion. This procedure is an age-specific transfusion technique intended for neonatal and infant patients.
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Service type: Procedural pediatric blood transfusion
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Typical site of service: Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), pediatric inpatient unit, or other acute care setting where rapid transfusion is clinically indicated
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an infant age two years or younger who requires an urgent small-volume blood transfusion delivered rapidly via syringe or injection device into a peripheral or central venous access. Example scenario: a 6-month-old with acute blood loss from a surgical complication or traumatic injury in the pediatric emergency department arrives pale and tachycardic. The team establishes or uses an existing IV or peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) and administers a single bolus of packed red blood cells using a syringe technique to restore circulating volume while preparations are made for ongoing resuscitation and definitive care. Workflow: verification of blood product and crossmatch, consent per facility policy, bedside vital sign monitoring, documentation of volume and rate, observation for transfusion reaction, and handoff to inpatient pediatric service or operating room as indicated.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
11 | Physician or other qualified health care professional service | When the primary provider billed is the attending physician performing the transfusion. |
22 | Increased procedural services | When the transfusion required substantially greater effort, complexity, or time than typical. |