Iron infusion

All Pinnacle practices in the Te Whatu Ora Lakes area.

• The service is inclusive of the GP consult, the nurse administration of the infusion, observation time and consumables.
• When submitting your referral, please specify which condition the patient requires the medication for.
• Submit your referral via Primary Options using the initial condition coding: Iron infusion.
• When invoicing for the service please lodge an ‘invoice only’ or the ‘outcome and invoice’ form and select the ‘Iron infusion’ invoice.

Patients who meet the special authority criteria for subsidised ferric carboxymaltose (Ferinject). Please refer to the PHARMAC website for special authority criteria for Ferinject (SA1840).

Patients domiciled in Te Whatu Ora Lakes area.

• Patients not enrolled in a Te Whatu Ora Lakes general practice.

• Patients not domiciled in Te Whatu Ora Lakes area.

• IM administration of iron (Ferrum H).
• Patients with anaemia not due to iron deficiency.
• Patients with evidence of iron overload or disturbance in utilisation of iron.
• Anyone with the following contraindications.

Contraindications to using Ferinject in patients:

• aged under 14 years
• in the 1^st trimester of pregnancy (at other stages of pregnancy please consult an obstetrician regarding the risks and benefits of treatment with IV iron)
• with previous or known hypersensitivity to parenteral iron products.

NB: allergic reactions are more common in people with a history of inflammatory diseases such as asthma, eczema and rheumatoid arthritis. Close observation is recommended for all patients whether or not they have had an iron infusion in the past. (Please see the link to Intravenous iron – safe prescribing – calculate and measure in our resources section below.)

• On completion of the infusion delivery and observation time.  The patient should be discharged from the iron infusion service once the patient is considered clinically safe to leave the practice. Observation is recommended for 30 minutes post infusion. (Please see the link to Intravenous iron – safe prescribing – calculate and measure in our resources section below.)
• The episode of care ends when the outcome and claim are submitted.
• Payment will be made once an outcome has been lodged for the case.
• The dosing and frequency of administration varies, in accordance with the indication for use.  A second claim may be made if the patient requires a divided dose of iron but please add this to the original case number.  Note: Each administration will require a new claim.

Please make your claim via Primary Options, select Iron Infusion and then attach the appropriate invoice(s).

Iron infusion: $150 (GST incl)

Please be aware the claim is all inclusive of the GP consultation, administration of the infusion, observation time and consumables.

Please include the Pharmac SA number with your claim 

A second claim may be made if the patient requires a divided dose of iron but please add this to the original case number.

Practices are required to provide sufficiently detailed consultation notes to determine appropriate use of funding.

Please ensure the condition that required the iron infusion is documented.

Please include the Pharmac SA number with your claim 

No. A patient co-payment cannot be charged. This service funds the administration of the infusion and there is no cost for the infusion to the patient, provided entry criteria are achieved. The funding for the service includes the co-payment for the initial GP consultation followed by the nurse administration of the infusion.

This service does not include the cost of the medication on special authority, this is the responsibility of the patient to purchase.

The service is funded by Te Whatu Ora.