Attribute: Is Implantable
The Is Implantable attribute in Data Connect is crucial for healthcare providers to ensure safety and compliance, as implantable devices require specific handling, usage, and regulatory considerations.
Identifying if a product is implantable helps healthcare facilities standardize procedures and make informed decisions about the products they use, improving patient safety and care. If marked, it influences EHR behavior in different internal systems that use this for processing work flows.
GHX Definition of an Implant
A device intended to be placed into a surgically or naturally formed cavity of the human body. A device is regarded as an implantable device only if it's intended to remain implanted continuously for 30 days or more.
The GHX implant definition was created using the definitions from two federal agencies, the FDA and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
What Is Not an Implant
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Liquids or other materials that are absorbed by the surrounding tissue won't be an implant because they're considered integral to the implant procedure rather than a separate, lasting implant. Liquids or absorbable materials include but are not limited to:
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Advanced hemostats and sealants.
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Synthetic sealants.
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Topical absorbable hemostats and topical thrombins.
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Bone morphogenetic protein.
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Catheters.
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Staples and clips.
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Additionally, a supply or instrument isn't considered an implant and won't be considered for reimbursement if it's meant to be removed or discarded during the same inpatient or outpatient procedure or single episode of care in which they are placed in the body.
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A device is not a “material or supply furnished incident to a service.” Items used as routine supplies should not be submitted as an implant.
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Guidewires, catheters, and clips used during surgery that don't remain in the body are used the same way as an instrument and aren't considered an implant.
Source
GHX specialists assign the Is Implantable attribute through expertise and by leveraging classifications such as the United Nations Standard Products and Services Code (UNSPSC) code.
Considerations
In the healthcare industry, the definition of an implant can differ. Many healthcare facilities create their own rules for what counts as an implant.