Summary & Overview
HCPCS S5011: 5% Dextrose in Lactated Ringer's, 1000 ml
Headline: HCPCS Level II code S5011 defined for 5% dextrose in lactated Ringer's, 1000 ml
Lead: HCPCS Level II code S5011 designates a 1000 ml bag of 5% dextrose in lactated Ringer's solution, an intravenous fluid used for fluid resuscitation and caloric supplementation across hospital and ambulatory infusion settings. The code standardizes billing and inventory for this specific large-volume crystalloid formulation.
This analysis covers national relevance and payer coverage. Key payers addressed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical context, typical sites of service, and the administrative role of the code in claims processing. The publication outlines benchmarks and payment-related considerations where available, highlights policy updates affecting HCPCS Level II infusion and supply codes, and provides clinical context for when a dextrose-containing Ringer's solution may be used.
What readers will learn: concise definition of the code, typical clinical uses, expected sites of service, which major national payers are covered in the analysis, and what information is unavailable in the input. Data not provided in the input (such as modifiers, associated taxonomies, ICD-10 pairings, specific payer rates, and related codes) is explicitly noted as unavailable.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code S5011 describes 5% dextrose in lactated ringer's, 1000 ml. This item represents an intravenous solution combining dextrose with lactated Ringer's solution intended for fluid and caloric supplementation during inpatient or outpatient infusion therapy.
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Service type: Intravenous infusion fluid
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Typical site of service: Hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient infusion suites, ambulatory surgery centers, and other infusion settings where large-volume crystalloid or dextrose-containing solutions are administered
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A patient presents to an outpatient infusion suite or hospital inpatient unit requiring maintenance intravenous fluids or correction of dehydration and electrolyte balance. The treating clinician orders S5011 (5% dextrose in lactated ringer's, 1000 ml) to provide both free water and calories with balanced electrolytes. Typical patients include postoperative adults with mild to moderate dehydration, patients with limited oral intake due to nausea or illness, and medical inpatients requiring transitional IV fluid therapy while oral intake is re-established. The clinical workflow includes medication verification by the prescribing provider, pharmacy compounding or selection of the premixed bag, verification of IV access by nursing, infusion pump setup, monitoring of vitals and intake/output, and documentation of fluid type, volume, rate, and patient response. Nursing documents indications such as dehydration, NPO status, or adjunctive caloric support, and clinicians reassess volume status and electrolytes to determine ongoing need or changes in fluid composition.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
24 | Unrelated evaluation and management service by the same physician during a postoperative period | Use when an unrelated E/M visit occurs during a global period while fluid administration is separate from the operative care |