Summary & Overview
HCPCS Level II P9050: Granulocytes, Pheresis, Each Unit
HCPCS Level II code P9050 denotes granulocytes obtained via pheresis and billed per individual unit. This code is used for billing the provision of granulocyte cellular therapy products, typically in hospital outpatient departments or specialized transfusion and apheresis centers. Granulocyte pheresis units are an important, though specialized, component of transfusion medicine and cellular therapy for patients with severe neutropenia or refractory infections.
Key national payers addressed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of what the code represents, how it is used in clinical and billing workflows, common modifiers, and what to expect in claims processing. The publication outlines typical sites of service, service line context, and payer coverage considerations relevant to institutions that collect and provide granulocyte units.
This summary provides clinical context and billing orientation for administrators, coders, and payers seeking to understand coding and service delivery for granulocyte pheresis units. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code P9050 represents granulocytes collected by pheresis, billed per unit. This service involves the collection and provision of granulocyte cellular therapy products obtained through pheresis for therapeutic transfusion or infusion.
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Service type: Cellular therapy collection and provision
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Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department or transfusion center providing specialized apheresis and cellular therapy services
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 34-year-old patient with severe, refractory neutropenia and documented life-threatening bacterial or fungal infections is referred for therapeutic granulocyte pheresis. The patient has had poor response to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and requires transfusion of donor-derived granulocyte units to provide temporary neutrophil support while definitive therapy (e.g., hematopoietic stem cell transplant or infection-directed treatment) is arranged. The workflow begins with referral from the treating hematologist or infectious disease specialist, infectious disease and transfusion medicine review of donor compatibility and infectious risk, informed consent, and pre-procedure laboratory testing (CBC, infectious disease screening per facility policy). On the day of service the patient is admitted to an inpatient unit or treated in an ambulatory apheresis suite staffed by apheresis-trained nursing and apheresis physicians (transfusion medicine or hematology). Granulocyte pheresis units (P9050) are administered with appropriate premedication and monitoring for transfusion reactions; vital signs and post-transfusion CBCs are obtained to assess increment. Documentation includes indication, donor unit identifiers, pre/post CBC, transfusion reaction monitoring, and anticoagulation/volume status management. Typical sites of service include hospital inpatient units, hospital outpatient infusion centers, and specialized apheresis centers associated with transfusion services.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
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