Summary & Overview
HCPCS S0174: Dolasetron Mesylate Oral 50 mg, Antiemetic
HCPCS Level II code S0174 designates oral dolasetron mesylate 50 mg, an antiemetic used to prevent or treat nausea and vomiting in outpatient settings. The code is relevant for billing pharmacy-dispensed oral chemotherapy-supportive care or symptomatic management when dolasetron is provided outside of an inpatient claim. For Medicare-specific circumstances, the listing references alternate coding under q0180.
Nationally, this code matters because oral antiemetics are commonly used across oncology, gastroenterology, and primary care to manage treatment-related or symptomatic nausea; clear coding supports accurate coverage determinations and consistent claims processing. Key payers addressed in this publication include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.
Readers will learn what S0174 represents clinically and operationally, where it is typically billed, and which payers are relevant for coverage discussions. The publication provides benchmarks and payer policy overviews where available, outlines common billing contexts and sites of service, and highlights coding considerations tied to Medicare guidance referencing q0180. Data not available in the input is identified explicitly in relevant sections.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code S0174 represents dolasetron mesylate, oral 50 mg administered in outpatient settings where oral antiemetic therapy is appropriate. The description notes a Medicare-specific alternative (q0180) for circumstances falling under the Medicare statute.
Service type: Oral antiemetic medication administration / pharmacy-dispensed oral drug
Typical site of service: Outpatient clinic, physician office, ambulatory infusion center, or pharmacy-dispensed outpatient setting
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 62-year-old oncology patient receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy presents to an outpatient infusion center with a history of prior chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). The clinical team prescribes oral S0174 (dolasetron mesylate, oral 50 mg) to be given prior to and/or after chemotherapy administration for prevention or treatment of nausea. Typical workflow: chemotherapy nurse documents indication and prior antiemetic response in the electronic medical record, verifies the oral medication order, confirms no contraindications (notably QT prolongation or interacting QT-prolonging medications), administers or dispenses the oral dose, and documents administration and any subsequent nausea/vomiting events. Typical site of service is an outpatient infusion center, oncology clinic, or ambulatory clinic; medication may also be dispensed from a clinic pharmacy for patient self-administration at home.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier | Routine reporting when no modifier applies |
22 | Increased procedural services |