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Pulmonology Coding Alert

Break Down Nebulizer Sessions to Capture Full Reimbursement
Know when you can bill separately for all services involved You'll report nebulizer servic... Read more
Is Your Office Sacrificing Payment for Training and E/Ms?
Get what you deserve with 94664 and 9921x The next time your practice drops everything to ... Read more
3 Tips You Can Use to Avoid Counseling Underpayments
You can boost your E/M levels and generate more reimbursement for your practice by trackin... Read more
Reader Question:
Use 95808-95811 to Report Staged Sleep Studies
Question: We've recently started billing sleep studies for a pulmonology practice. What Me... Read more
Reader Question:
Insurers Prefer Consistent 94014 Reportage
Question: Should we report patient-initiated spirometry on the last day of the month?Illin... Read more
Reader Question:
Use E/M Code for Separate Services
Question: Our pulmonologist frequently sees patients who come in for allergy injections bu... Read more
Reader Question:
Don't Bill 99214-25 and 71010 Together
Question: Recently our carrier rejected my claim for 99214-25 and 71010. What did I do wro... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Unlisted MIP and MEP Tests
Question: Recently Medicare denied my claim for 94799, which I used when my pulmonologist ... Read more
NCCI 9.3 Update:
Are You Reporting Ventilation Management and Critical Care Together? Not Anymore
Experts explain why you can't unbundle 94660 and 99293 If you've been reporting ventilatio... Read more
Get a Grip on Acute Chest Syndrome Coding
Report anemia and fever to justify procedures  When pulmonologists diagnose acut... Read more
Quick Key:
Learn These Pulmonology-Related NCCI Edits
If you're not sure that you'll remember all the pulmonology-related edits in the latest Na... Read more
Use 2 Scenarios to Reinforce Your -Q5 and -Q6 Usage
Get what you deserve with these 2 modifiers The pulmonologist's choice of a locum... Read more
Reader Question:
Separate Office Visits, Injections
Question: Can I bill allergy immunotherapy and an office visit separately?Massachusetts Su... Read more
Reader Question:
Follow Criteria to Report Consultation Codes
Question: A patient's primary-care physician (PCP) exhausted all treatment options for a p... Read more
Reader Question:
Bill Direct, Prolonged Patient Contact With 99354
Question: Will carriers pay our pulmonologist for more than 30 minutes of additional time ... Read more
Reader Question:
Stick With Documentation When Reporting 519.1
Question: My pulmonologist says that when a pediatric patient presents for the first time ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Second Opinion for Cystic Fibrosis
Question: Our pulmonologist recently saw a pediatric patient with cystic fibrosis (277.02)... Read more
Coding Sarcoidosis:
3 Guidelines You Should Always Follow
Experts offer quick tips for reporting all servicesIf your pulmonologist treats patients w... Read more
Want to Ace Methacholine Challenge Testing? Here's How
5 easy steps to proper codingWhen your pulmonologist administers a methacholine challenge ... Read more
Time for Your E/M Checkup
Experts answer your prolonged services FAQsAre you a little shaky on which in-office prolo... Read more
Reader Question:
Meet 'Incident-To' Criteria When Reporting 99211
Question: Our pulmonologist performed a thoracoscopy (32602 ... diagnostic; lungs and pleu... Read more
Reader Question:
Discontinued Procedure Requires Modifier -53
Question: Recently our pulmonologist discontinued a bronchoscopy (31622) because the patie... Read more
Reader Question:
Medicare Doesn't Pay for 99050 and 99058
Question: We recently began operating an after-hours walk-in clinic for urgent conditions.... Read more
You Be The Coder:
32000 Includes Only Surgical Services
Question: How can we get paid for an office consult (99244) and a thoracentesis (32000) on... Read more
Using the New CVA Diagnosis Code
What You Need to Know Pulmonology coders will finally be able to report various asthma ... Read more
Learn the New Respiratory Codes
A Clip-and-Save List Looking for a way to remember the new ICD-9 diagnosis codes for asth... Read more
6 Expert Tips to Boost Your ICD-9 Coding Accuracy
If you continually make the same mistakes with pulmonology-related ICD-9 codes, you could ... Read more
Think You've Made the Case for Modifier -22?
Answer May Surprise You If you submit a modifier -22 claim for a pulmonology procedure tha... Read more
Quiz:
Test Your Coding Knowledge
You can read coding articles until you're blue in the face, but if you can't remember them... Read more
Reader Question:
Don't Hold Your Breath Over O2
Question: Should we bill for both oxygen administration and the oxygen?South Carolina Subs... Read more
Reader Question:
Support Your Physician's 465.9 Diagnosis
Question: Recently our pulmonologist saw a patient in the morning for upper respiratory in... Read more
Reader Question:
Report 493.9x for Unlisted Condition
Question: How should I code reactive airway disease without coding asthma? I can't find a ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Anaphylactic Reaction in Office
Question: On several occasions, an allergy patient has had an anaphylactic reaction in the... Read more
Dont Rush to Bill for X-ray Interpretations You Might Land Your Practice in Hot Water
When billing for x-ray interpretations, some pulmonology coders follow the "fi... Read more
Watch Out:
Dont Neglect Your Diagnosis Codes
Once you've met your carrier's guidelines for attaching modifier -26 (Professional compon... Read more
Solve Your Denial Woes:
Thoroughly Document Your Pulmonology Consults
With thorough documentation and careful language when you code consultations, you can ens... Read more
News Brief:
NCCI 9.2 Bundles Bronchoscopy and Nasal Endoscopy
Your pulmonologist can sleep easy tonight: The National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI), ... Read more
News Brief:
Stay in the Know Review the ICD-9 Updates
You will be able to more accurately code severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), should ... Read more
Reader Question:
Use 99183 for Each Session of HBO
Question: Our pulmonologist recently passed certification exams to perform hyperbaric ox... Read more
Reader Question:
Tracheotomy Replacement With Subsequent Care
Question: A rehabilitation hospital admitted a patient who developed a problem with an ex... Read more
Reader Question:
No ICD-9 Code Represents Disability Evaluation
Question: My pulmonologist frequently treats patients on disability. How should I report ... Read more
Reader Question:
Know How to Code Photodynamic Therapy
Question: How should I bill for photodynamic therapy?California Subscriber Answer: Photo... Read more
Reader Question:
Bill for Pulse Oximetry in Outpatient Settings
Question: When does Medicare allow separate payment for pulse oximetry? Which ICD-9 code... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Interpret Normal ABGs
Question: Our pulmonologist performed multiple arterial blood gas (ABG) interpretations wi... Read more
Want to Cash In on the 94014 Reimbursement Increase? Heres How
Medicare will pay you twice as much for billing global code 94014 starting in July. Bu... Read more
Taking Subsequent Care for Granted? Know Your Documentation
Documentation: One word says it all when it comes to receiving pay for subsequent hospital... Read more
At-Home Spirometry:
Dos and Donts
Proving medical necessity for at-home spirometry can be a challenge but if you know some ... Read more
Quiz Yourself:
Test Your Knowledge of Subsequent Hospital Care
Dont take subsequent hospital care for granted supplying too much or too little informati... Read more
Reader Question:
Justify Multiple Services in One Week
Question: The pulmonologist placed a patient on antibiotic therapy to treat an upper respi... Read more
Reader Question:
Report Multiple Nebulizer Treatments per Unit
Question: We often perform numerous nebulizer treatments on a patient on the same day. How... Read more
Reader Question:
Append Modifier -22 for Primary Care Services
Question: Can I append modifier -22 to all services, even if they are not primary?Florida ... Read more
Reader Question:
Use Modifier -52 for a Discontinued Procedure
Question: If a physician determines that he doesnt need to complete a full procedure, such... Read more
Reader Question:
Code 415.11 as the Primary Diagnosis
Question: While attending to a patient for a pulmonary embolism, my pulmonologist discover... Read more
Reader Question:
Code Flu or Pneumonia Shots Accurately
Question: How should I code flu or pneumonia shots administered on the same day as an offi... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Choose Modifiers for Multiple Procedures With Caution
Question: My pulmonologist performed a bronchoscopy (31622, Bronchoscopy [rigid or flexibl... Read more
Resuscitate Critical Care Payment:
Educate Physicians
Insufficient physician documentation not your coding skills could be jeopardizing re... Read more
Separate Pulse Oximetry Can Get Paid Heres How
Do you automatically write off pulse oximetries? If so, you could be losing out on reim... Read more
Increase Critical Care Payment:
Report Separate E/M Services
Critical care codes don't include all additional E/M services, so get paid for both on... Read more
Avoid Coding Fraud:
Your Legal Responsibility and Liability
Beware: If you bill the government for a non-medically necessary service or for a servic... Read more
Dont Bundle Every Code Into Critical Care
Stick to your guns: If your physician performs a separately billable procedure while ren... Read more
Reader Question:
Modifier -57 and Minor Procedures Dont Mix
Question: We use modifier -57 on separately identifiable E/M services during which the ... Read more
Reader Question:
Resolve Coding Disagreement With Physicians
Question: We disagree with our pulmonologist's documented level of care for one of his... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Get Paid for Phone Time
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking ... Read more
PFTs Cure Your Emphysema Coding Pains
Knowing how to balance your billing for the numerous pulmonary function tests (PFTs... Read more
Clear Up V-Code Confusion
Don't let the absence of correlating symptoms keep you from reporting nonpulmonary tests... Read more
Medical Decision-Making Helps Procure $35 Worth of Your Time
If you've been downcoding to a level-four office visit or lower just to play it safe, ... Read more
Reader Question:
Bill Critical Care Under One PIN
Question: Our pulmonologist saw a patient in the morning for a critical care service. La... Read more
Reader Question:
94762 Is a TechnicalCode
Question: How should I code for an overnight desaturation oximetry when it is not assoc... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Use E/M for Trach Tube Replacement
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking ... Read more
Dont Sleep on Your Polysomnography Coding
If you're waking up tired from long days trying to squeeze reimbursement for your poly... Read more
Ventilation Management Shouldnt Cause Coding Failure
You need to put your ventilation management know-how to the test so you can make all A'... Read more
News Brief:
CMS Increases Physician Payment Rates for 2003
Dry your tears, because CMS issued a regulation on Feb. 26, 2003, that boosts Medicare p... Read more
Reader Question:
Use Modifier -22 With Multiple Stents
Question: The pulmonologist at our practice recently performed a bronchoscopy and placed... Read more
Reader Question:
Take the Six-Minute Walk Test in Stride
Question: What is the "six-minute walk test"? Our pulmonologist is interested in using ... Read more
Reader Question:
Use V07.1 As Secondary Diagnosis
Question: What ICD-9 code is used for a patient who is coming to the office to receive r... Read more
Reader Question:
Leave Modifiers off Add-On Codes
Question: Our pulmonologist performed critical care services on a Medicare patient in th... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Dont Confuse 94620 With 94060
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at... Read more
Conquer Pulmonary Rehabilitation Coding With LMRPs
Don't rush into reporting individual respiratory therapy codes until you learn your lo... Read more
Documentation and Diagnosis Codes Show Medical Necessity
You have to come out with your guns blazing when it's time to show your intermediary tha... Read more
Find Answers for Your Shared-Service Woes
Shockwaves reverberated through the coding community when Medicare announced its new s... Read more
Reader Question:
Oxygen Administration Is a Lost Cause
Question: One of our providers gave a patient two liters of oxygen by nasal cannula. Sho... Read more
Reader Question:
Flow Volume Bundled Into 94010
Question: When doing a flow volume loop for spirometry on a regular basis, should I bill... Read more
Reader Question:
Repeat Spirometries Restricted
Question: Can I separately report multiple spirometries in the office? Washington Subsc... Read more
Reader Question:
Report 95027 for Airborne Allergens
Question: Our local carrier requires us to use 95024 for our skin testing. We have been ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Multiple Biopsies Depend on Method
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at... Read more
Take the Mystery out of Coding for Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
If you're tired of stressing about how to code for the numerous tests your doctor uses ... Read more
Solve the Consultation Mystery
Even if you've never directly diagnosed one of your patients with hypersensitivity pneu... Read more
New CCI Edits:
Dont Stress over Latest Bundling Edits
Pulmonologists emerge relatively unscathed as the Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) versi... Read more
Reader Question:
Bill Once for Same-Specialty Critical Care
Question: May two physicians from the same specialty charge for critical care on the sam... Read more
Reader Question:
Clarify Multiple-Bronchoscopy Confusion
Question: I read in a past issue that I should not append modifier -59 (Distinct procedu... Read more
Reader Question:
Report Office Visit Separately
Question: Can CPT 94664 be charged with an office visit? North Carolina Subscriber Answ... Read more
Reader Question:
LMRPs Show Medical Necessity for PFT
Question: How can I show medical necessity for a pulmonary function test (PFT)? Which co... Read more
Reader Question:
Learn the Stress-Test Lingo
Question: What are the correct CPT codes for a cardiac stress test and a pulmonary stres... Read more
Reader Question:
Use Consultation Codes in the Emergency Department
Question: Our pulmonologist is sometimes on-call for the emergency department (ED). He t... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Use Modifier -51 with Complex Bronchoscopy
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at... Read more
Take the Pain Out of Coding for Antigen Therapy
Deciphering the complex rules regarding billing for allergy immunotherapy can be painful... Read more
Documentation:
The Key That Unlocks the Door to Full Critical Care Reimbursement
Reporting critical care on the same day as other services or procedures can be near impo... Read more
The Vital Critical Care Definition
Insurers pay strict attention to the definition of critical care when calculating reimbur... Read more
How to Apply the Multiple-Endoscopy Rule
Question: Which codes are best for a bronchoscopy to get optimum reimbursement? We have ... Read more
Code Using Preliminary Diagnosis Vs.Test Results
Question: Are pulmonary function tests billed with the diagnosis for which they were ord... Read more
Take a Close Look at Observation Coding
Question: Occasionally we place a patient in observation status for one to three days. W... Read more
Finding the Elusive Peak Flow Rate Code
Question: What is correct coding for a peak flow rate done in-office with a peak flow de... Read more
Reader Question:
Bust the Bundles to Properly Code PFTs
Question: We are getting different answers from Medicare and other insurance companies r... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Take the Sting Out of Insect Venom Injections
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking ... Read more
Available Years:  2003  2002  2001  2000