CPT 96374: IV push, single or first drug. What Medicare pays and what to ask
An IV push is a drug given quickly through a vein. Here is what 96374 covers and the national Medicare rate.
What this code means
CPT 96374 is an intravenous push of a single drug, or the first drug if several are pushed.
Each additional different drug pushed in sequence uses another code, 96375.
Why the bill can be much higher than the Medicare rate
The drug itself is billed on a separate line from the administration.
Several IV lines for one short treatment are worth reading carefully.
| If a line is billed at | It would be |
|---|---|
| 5x the Medicare rate | $188.70 |
| 10x the Medicare rate | $377.40 |
| 20x the Medicare rate | $754.80 |
The Medicare rate is a published benchmark, not a legal ceiling on what a provider may charge. Our free scan flags a line as worth a closer look when it is billed at more than 10 times the Medicare rate.
Questions worth asking before you pay
- How many different drugs were pushed?
- Is the initial IV service reported only once?
- Does each line match a drug I actually received?
Check every line against the official Medicare rates in about a minute. The scan is free.
Related codes
Source: Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (CMS, July 2026 release), national payment amount, non-facility setting. Last updated October 2026. This page is general information, not legal or medical advice. Rates change each year and a hospital bill can include charges that the benchmark does not cover.