Summary & Overview
HCPCS P9054: Leukocyte-Reduced, Frozen, Deglycerolized, Washed Red Blood Cells
HCPCS Level II code P9054 represents a highly processed blood product: whole blood or red blood cells that are leukocyte reduced, frozen, deglycerolized, and washed, billed per unit. This code captures procedures used when patients require cryopreserved red cell units that have undergone glycerol removal and washing to reduce risks such as hemolytic reactions and immune complications. Nationally, P9054 matters in settings with complex transfusion needs, including specialty hematology, transplant programs, and trauma centers where rare blood management and long-term storage are necessary.
Key payers included in the analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical context for P9054, the typical sites of service, and the payer landscape. The publication outlines benchmarks for coverage and billing practice, common modifiers used with HCPCS Level II codes, and operational considerations for blood banks and transfusion services. Additionally, the report summarizes relevant policy updates affecting processed blood product billing and highlights implications for revenue cycle teams and clinical services managing high-acuity transfusion cases.
Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, specific ICD-10 diagnoses, related codes, and detailed payer policy variations.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code P9054 describes whole blood or red blood cells that have been leukocyte reduced, frozen, deglycerolized, and washed, billed per unit. The service type is blood product transfusion/preparation involving specialized processing (deglycerolization and washing) of donated whole blood or packed red blood cells. The typical site of service is hospital inpatient or outpatient transfusion services, blood banks, and specialized transfusion centers where processed blood products are stored and administered.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 62-year-old male with end-stage liver disease is admitted for decompensation and develops acute symptomatic anemia following a gastrointestinal bleed. The transfusion service requests one unit of frozen, deglycerolized, washed, leukocyte-reduced red blood cells (P9054) for transfusion. The blood bank locates a compatible frozen unit, performs deglycerolization and multiple saline washes to remove cryoprotectant and residual plasma proteins, and issues the unit under hospital transfusion protocols. The unit is transported to the inpatient ward, bedside identity and compatibility checks are performed by the registered nurse and transfusionist, and the transfusion is administered with vital sign monitoring per institutional blood administration policy. Documentation includes blood product identifiers, expiration after thawing, indication for transfusion, pre- and post-transfusion vital signs, and any transfusion reactions.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier or default billing | Use when no special modifier applies; standard claim submission for the itemized unit. |
22 |