---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 C.F.R. § 410.161"
title: "42"
number: "410.161"
heading: "Part B blood deductible."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/42/410.161"
---

# §410.161. Part B blood deductible.

- (a) **General rules.**
  - (1) As used in this section, packed red cells means the red blood cells that remain after plasma is separated from whole blood.
  - (2) A unit of packed red cells is treated as the equivalent of a pint of whole blood, which in this section is referred to as a unit of whole blood.
  - (3) Medicare does not pay for the first 3 units of whole blood or units of packed red cells that are furnished under Part A or Part B in a calendar year. The Part B blood deductible is reduced to the extent that a blood deductible has been applied under Part A.
  - (4) The blood deductible does not apply to other blood components such as platelets, fibrinogen, plasma, gamma globulin and serum albumin, or to the costs of processing, storing, and administering blood.
  - (5) The blood deductible is in addition to the Part B annual deductible specified in [§ 410.160](/cfr/42/410.160.md).
- (b) **Beneficiary's responsibility for the first 3 units of blood.**
  - (1) The beneficiary is responsible for the first three units of whole blood or packed red cells received during a calendar year.
  - (2) If the blood is furnished by a hospital or CAH, the rules set forth in § [409.87 (b)](/cfr/42/409.87.md?p=b), [(c)](/cfr/42/409.87.md?p=c), and [(d)](/cfr/42/409.87.md?p=d) of this chapter apply.
  - (3) If the blood is furnished by a physician, clinic, or other supplier that has accepted assignment of Medicare benefits, or claims payment under [§ 424.64](/cfr/42/424.64.md) of this chapter because the beneficiary died without assigning benefits, the supplier may charge the beneficiary the reasonable charge for the first 3 units, to the extent that those units are not replaced.

## Notes

### Amendments

[51 FR 41339, Nov. 14, 1986, as amended at 53 FR 6648, Mar. 2, 1988; 56 FR 8852, Mar. 1, 1991; 58 FR 30668, May 26, 1993]

### Source

Source: 51 FR 41339, Nov. 14, 1986, unless otherwise noted. Redesignated at 59 FR 6577, Feb. 11, 1994.

### Authority

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 1302, 1395m, 1395hh, 1395rr, and 1395ddd.

### Source

Source: 51 FR 41339, Nov. 14, 1986, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[51 FR 41339, Nov. 14, 1986, as amended at 53 FR 6648, Mar. 2, 1988; 56 FR 8852, Mar. 1, 1991; 58 FR 30668, May 26, 1993]