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Pulmonology Coding Alert

CPT 2005 Update:
New Codes Help Distinguish Laryngoscopy Type, Multiple Bronchial Stents
Codes for graft harvesting in larynx simplify reporting  If you've struggled to find... Read more
Count Doses to Perfect Xolair Coding
                         ... Read more
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Ensure You've Covered CPT And HCPCS Basics
Handy tool helps keep charge ticket updated and the auditor at bay There's no question tha... Read more
Coding Quiz:
Test Your ROS Knowledge
3 scenarios from our experts help you improve E/M skillsBefore you report any E/M procedur... Read more
Reader Question:
Proper Unbundling When Reporting Critical Care
Question: Our practice frequently reports procedure codes 31500, 93503 and 36620 with crit... Read more
Reader Question:
Watch 95805 Wake Up Your Claims for MWT
Question: Is there another code to use for a maintenance of wake (MOW) test besides 95805?... Read more
Reader Question:
Reporting E/M Services and 94762 Is a No-No
Question: Is it true that I should only report 94762 as a technical component? Therefore, ... Read more
Reader Question:
Don't Let Venom Injections Poison Reimbursement
Question: We are having problems getting reimbursed for allergy injections for stinging in... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Time Tells All for 95180
Question: Please tell me how to bill for 95144 at three vials, and 95180 at eight injectio... Read more
Your Top-3 Polysomnography Questions Answered
Refresh your expertise with our 95808-95811 primer Before you report staged sleep studies... Read more
NCCI Update:
Pulmonology Practices Escape NCCI 10.3 Edits
October 2004 marks the initiation of the National Correct Coding Initiative version 10.3 e... Read more
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Say Goodbye to Immunotherapy Woes
Use this flowchart to guide yourself through 95165 coding for Medicare and non-Medicare pa... Read more
Mastered Critical Care Coding? Review These Crucial Steps First
Time always tells all for 99291 and 99292 If you struggle with reporting critical care, lo... Read more
Breathe Easy When You Report 94660
Bundling E/M services into your vent management codes is NOT the cure-all When a pulmonol... Read more
Coding Quiz:
Test Your Critical Care Coding Knowledge
3 scenarios from our coding experts help you improve your 99291 skills No pulmonology prac... Read more
Reader Questions:
Drugs May Qualify for Incident-To Billing - or Not
Question: Our practice has billed nebulizer drug codes (i.e., J7618 and J7619) since the b... Read more
Reader Questions:
Billing for PFTs? You Shouldn't Be
Question: We perform pulmonary function tests (PFTs) on an outpatient basis at the hospita... Read more
Reader Questions:
Look to Third-Party Payers for Provigil
Question: Can our practice do anything to receive approval from insurance carriers to pres... Read more
Reader Questions:
Turn to Individual Carriers for LMRPs
Question: Does CMS provide any information on critical care local medical review policies ... Read more
Reader Questions:
Don't Ever Rewrite History - Stick With the Elements
Question: The chart that physicians use to select the level of history includes identifier... Read more
Reader Questions:
Consider 780.50-780.59 for Sleep Diagnoses
Question: We keep facing denials for our sleep terrors, sleepwalking, and idiopathic hyper... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Stick With Documentation for A+ Billing
Question: After one physician performed a laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy, the physician in ... Read more
Think You've Mastered Coding for Walking Tests? Read This First
Let your patients do the walking and 94620 or 94761 do the talkingPulmonologists often ord... Read more
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Your Stress-Test Documentation Solution
                         ... Read more
Get the Pay You Deserve for IV Infusion Services
90784 isn't an infusion cure-all If you simply report 90784 when the physician spends an ... Read more
Status Means Everything When You're Coding IV Infusion
Our quick update on 'A' and 'T' status leads you to the right infusion codeNot all infusio... Read more
2 Questions You Need to Ask Before You Report Stress Tests and Bronchodilation
Confirm medical necessity to avoid the spirometry denials trap When your pulmonology ... Read more
Reader Question:
Bundling Conscious Sedation and 31622 Is a No-No
Question: A physician in our practice wants to bill for conscious sedation when he perform... Read more
Reader Question:
Probable Diagnoses Just Don't Cut It
Question: A pediatric patient with symptoms of asthma comes to our practice for the first ... Read more
Reader Question:
2 Different Physiologic Determinations? Append -26
Question: When I report lung volume interpretations using body plethosmography, should I r... Read more
Reader Question:
Instruction Justifies Multiple 94664 Pay
Question: Do payers limit how many times we can report 94664 in a given period? For exampl... Read more
Reader Question:
5th Digits Help Your ICD-9 Coding Specificity
Question: The ICD-9 codes identify asthma allergy with code 493.9, but we report 493.00 fo... Read more
Reader Question:
94640 Covers All, Including Equipment and Drugs
Question: If a patient comes to the office with an acute exacerbation of asthma and the ph... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Pulmonology Testing and Interpretation - Global or Component Billing?
Question: If Dr. A is present in the office while a patient has a test with bronchodilator... Read more
Losing Sleep Over 780.53? Follow 3 Tips for Reporting
Our coding experts can help you overcome your OSA coding trouble A patient presents to you... Read more
Perform a Procedure With Your E/M? -25 Isn't the Only Solution
When -25 doesn't cure your E/M pay problems, modifier -57 may do the trick If you want to... Read more
NCCI 10.2 Update:
Catch Your Breath Before You Report J2001 With 89220
If you bill J2001 for lidocaine injections, the latest edits will get your attention I... Read more
Reader Question:
Bill 32020 if Doctor Leaves the Drainage Tube
Question: Our pulmonologist placed an anterior chest tube in the patient. He made a 1-cm ... Read more
Reader Question:
Report Spirometry and 94640 Separately
Question: Some of our chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma patients req... Read more
Reader Question:
When Unsure, Code Only the Definitive Conditions
Question: If a patient presents for the first time with symptoms of asthma, can we code t... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Carriers Reimburse Only Patients for A4627
Question: Can we get reimbursed for drugs (e.g., J7619, Albuterol, unit dose) and durable... Read more
ICD-9 Update:
Get Ready for New Allergic Rhinitis, Bronchitis Dx Codes
Alleviate pet dander,chronic bronchitis with 2 new codes It's official: The Centers for Di... Read more
Coding Quiz:
2 Scenarios Test Your Grasp of Photodynamic Therapy Codes
Think you know how to report photodynamic therapy (PDT)? Coding experts have helped us pu... Read more
Don't Miss Out on Full Pay for Multiple Procedures
Append modifiers -59 and -51 in order to separate related codes When your pulmonologists p... Read more
Trouble Reporting the Correct Administration Codes for 90732?
2 tips ease your reporting for vaccine administration Many practices miss out on 100 perce... Read more
Reader Question:
Report 94070 for Methacholine Administration
Question: A patient had a methacholine challenge test and a skin test done on the same da... Read more
Reader Question:
Who Performed the CPAP Check? It Matters
Question: When a patient comes to the office and the respiratory therapist completes a pr... Read more
Reader Question:
94656 Pay Is up to Your State Medicaid Policy
Question: A patient was seen by three different physicians on the same date of service. T... Read more
Reader Question:
Report Asthma Education Based on Provider Type
Question: Is there a CPT code for providing asthma education to a patient? Virginia Subsc... Read more
Reader Question:
Global Codes Report PFTs in a Private Setting
Question: One of our physicians supervised a study at a local hospital, but another physi... Read more
Reader Question:
Report 94664 and E/M Codes With Modifier -25
Question: If the physician provides an office visit and then separately performs demonstr... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Report 31645 and 31646 With -59 for Full Pay
Question: I'm trying to figure out when therapeutic aspiration is subsequent, that is, if... Read more
Back-to-Coding Basics:
Has PFT Coding Wrecked Your Asthma Claims?
We've got the spirometry and allergy coding answers you've been searching for To properly ... Read more
Forfeiting $50 a Pop on 94014:
Are You at Risk?
Tip: Report patient-initiated spirometry only once a month Think you know everything you ... Read more
Get the $2,400 You Deserve With Solid 99232-99233 Claims
How to think outside the 99231 box If you learn subsequent hospital care's service levels... Read more
Reader Question:
Using a Modifier for Bronchoscopies? Think Again
Question: When the pulmonologist performs an endoscopic service, such as a transbronchial ... Read more
Reader Question:
Identify Your Nursing-Home Coding Weaknesses
Question: We recently began referring patients to nursing facilities and also providing E/... Read more
Reader Question:
Double-Check NCCI Edits, Your Modifier Use
Question: The insurance company denied a claim, stating that a procedure is inclusive to t... Read more
Reader Question:
Let 3 Codes Answer Your Sleep Studies Questions
Question: Our pulmonologist has begun performing sleep studies on COPD (chronic obstructiv... Read more
Reader Question:
Physicians Can Add E/M Code to Injection Claim
Question: When the physician performs an intramuscular injection, when can I report 90782 ... Read more
You Be The Coder:
Discontinued CPR
Question: One of our pulmonologists spent critical- care time with an inpatient on two sep... Read more
Recoup Hundreds for Your Respiratory Acidosis and Alkalosis Treatments
Why you may be losing $120 for tube placements You can end the confusion over respiratory ... Read more
Tie the Right ICD-9 Codes to Acidosis and Alkalosis Care
Learn the 3 types of acidosis Knowing the various conditions that cause acidosis and alkal... Read more
Get Ready to Earn $115 for Observation Care
Experts show when to choose 99219 instead of 99214 Reporting established patient codes 992... Read more
Corrections:
Ventilator Management
In the April 2004 Pulmonology Coding Alert, the article "3 Answers Improve Your Ventilator... Read more
Reader Question:
Count Anatomic Sites, Not Lesions
Question: How should I report a "laser bronchoscopy" when the pulmonologist treats multipl... Read more
Reader Question:
Assign Critical Care for Day of Service
Question: The pulmonologist began to provide critical care at 11 p.m., and the service con... 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:
Follow the 2 Stages of Photodynamic Therapy
Question: How should I bill for photodynamic therapy?California Subscriber Answer: Photody... Read more
Reader Question:
Venture Into Home-Visit Coding
Question: How should we report home visits?New Jersey Subscriber Answer: You should code h... Read more
Reader Question:
No More Starred Procedures Means More Modifiers
Question: What's the practical significance of losing the starred designation in CPT 2004?... Read more
You Be The Coder:
MIP and MEP Payment
Question: Recently, Medicare denied my claim for 94799, which I used for maximum inspirato... Read more
Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Coding:
How to Earn $400 for 31622, 94010 and 99214
Get a grip on E/M and spirometry bundles You can report the pulmonologist's hyper... Read more
Understand Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Procedure Coding
Using signs-and-symptoms codes makes all the differenceDon't get lost in a sea of ICD-9 co... Read more
Don't Fall Prey to Pulmonology Diagnosis Coding Myths
Myth #1: You're limited to the precertified procedure and diagnosisIf you base your pulmon... Read more
Attention, Pulmonology Coders:
Say Goodbye to Grace Periods
Tip: Review the Federal Register to update charge formsYou once had 90 days to implement n... Read more
Reader Question:
Modifier -59 Breaks Up Bronchoscopies
Question: The pulmonologist performed one pre-operative bronchoscopy and another more deta... Read more
Reader Question:
Use J0170 for Hemorrhage Drug Treatment
Question: We had a patient who was hemorrhaging, and the physician instilled 10 ccs of epi... Read more
Reader Question:
ABG Review Payment Is Not an Option
Question: How should I bill for a pulmonologist who goes to the hospital and reviews arter... Read more
Reader Question:
An E/M Code Works for Smoking Counseling
Question: Will insurers pay for smoking-cessation treatments? If so, what codes and docume... Read more
Reader Question:
Bill Once for Same-Group Critical Care
Question: May two physicians from the same group charge for critical care on the same day ... Read more
Reader Question:
Different Bronchospasms Tell the 94060 and 94620 Story
Question: What is the difference between pre- and postspirometry (94060) and pulmonary str... Read more
You Be The Coder:
Bronchospasm Evaluations and Modifiers
Question: Our hospital lets outside physicians report 94060 with modifier -26. The hospita... Read more
3 Answers Improve Your Ventilator Coding Reimbursement by $100
We'll show you when to use 94656 You can avoid denials for the pulmonologist'... Read more
Let Expert Solutions Revive Your Failed Ventilator Claims
Get a grip on billing E/M codes and ventilator servicesAre you getting repeated denials fo... Read more
Quick Tips for Coding Respiratory Treatments
Your code depends on where the physician places the mask1. Use these ICD-9 codes for respi... Read more
Nebulizer Supplies Could Bring You Hundreds in Revenue
Experts say it's all in your J7618-J7619 billingReporting nebulizer drug codes for a few d... Read more
The $55 Question:
Are You Downcoding E/Ms?
When pulmonology coders don't know how to calculate a patient's risk level, they could be ... Read more
Reader Question:
Bill 36557 Separately From 93503
Question: A pulmonologist told me that I could not perform a Swan-Ganz without doing a cen... Read more
Reader Question:
31502 Reimbursement Includes Supplies
Question: The pulmonologist changed a number-eight tracheotomy to a number-six tracheotomy... Read more
Reader Question:
Watch Out for 94375 Bundles
Question: When the physician performs a flow volume loop for spirometry, which code should... Read more
Reader Question:
Assign 99231-99233 for Subsequent Hospital Care
Question: Medicare frequently denies our claims for subsequent hospital care. Do you have ... Read more
You Be The Coder:
Overnight Desaturation Oximetry
Question: How should I code for an overnight desaturation oximetry when it is not associat... Read more
Stumped by NCCI's New Allergy Code Bundles? Not Anymore
Why 'extensive procedure' designation affects your coding  You can no longer report ... Read more
4 Tips Give Your PFT Coding a Tune-Up
Use expert strategies to ensure reimbursement Although you may have trouble remembering al... Read more
Don't Report 94620 With J1644
NCCI bundles heparin into a number of stress tests Although your pulmonologist may use hep... Read more
3 Answers Revive Your 99291-99292 Claims
Get the most out of claims for anaphylaxis reaction When your pulmonologist treats allergy... Read more
Report Critical Care With Confidence
 We'll show you when to use 99291 instead of 99205 Review these three key points to r... Read more
Reader Question:
Choose 10060 Rather Than Critical Care Codes
Question: Our pulmonologist occasionally performs a small "x" incision in a patient's ches... Read more
Reader Question:
Append Modifier -25 to E/M Services
Question: Insurers often deny our practice's claims when we attach modifier -25 to a code.... Read more
Reader Question:
Attach Modifiers for Teaching Physicians
Question: Would you explain how I should use modifiers -GC and -GE when reporting services... Read more
Reader Question:
Get Free Access to NCCI Edits
Question: I heard that Medicare posted the National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edits... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Reporting Nebulizer Education
Question: If I understand correctly, when the pulmonologist or ancillary staff show a pati... Read more
Is Your Office Losing Out on Thoracentesis Payments? Not Anymore
Know when to use 32000 and 32002 to avoid denials You can make coding the pulmonologist's... Read more
3 Strategies Improve Your Sleep Studies Reimbursement
Know which modifiers to use with 95807 To ensure reimbursement for your pulmonologist's sl... Read more
Get a Grip on the Rules for Teaching Physicians
Please Medicare with surefire documentation Pulmonology coders can get paid for E/M servic... Read more
Reporting E/M Visits and Thoracenteses:
Modifier -25 Can Help
Separately bill office visits that go beyond the surgical procedureIf you know how to use ... Read more
Know Your Teaching Physician Medical Notes
What to expect from your pulmonologist Now that you know when you can report an E/M servic... Read more
Reader Question:
Report 31623 Once per Session
Question: Can I bill for multiple bronchoscopy brushings and biopsies when the pulmonologi... Read more
Reader Question:
FEV-1 and FVC Readings Don't Change 94060 Use
Question: Can I bill for 94060 if the FEV-1 and FVC reach a certain percent when the pulmo... Read more
Reader Question:
Use -57 When E/M Leads to Surgery
Question: When should I use modifier -25 instead of modifier -57?Hawaii Subscriber Answer:... Read more
Reader Question:
Allergy Testing Comes Down to 95024 and 95027
Question: Our local carrier requires us to use 95024 for our skin testing. We have been us... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Preoperative Consultation for COPD Patient
Question: A cardiologist sent a patient with COPD to our pulmonologist for a preoperative ... Read more
Get Ready for CPT 2004:
Transbronchial Lung Biopsy and Aspiration Top List of Procedural Changes
Pulmonology coders have two new bronchoscopy-related codes to look forward to in 2004. CPT... Read more
Are You Coding Influenza Vaccinations Correctly?
CPT 2004 deletes whole-virus code Although coding influenza vaccinations may seem straigh... Read more
3 Tips Improve Your Immunotherapy Coding
When to pick 95115 over 95120 If you want to code your pulmonologist's immunotherapy trea... Read more
READER QUESTION:
Base E/M Code on Tax ID Number
Question: The pulmonologist in our multispecialty practice performed an E/M service on a ... Read more
READER QUESTION:
Patient's Status Drives Component E/M Coding
Question: During an office visit, my pulmonologist performed an expanded problem-focused ... Read more
READER QUESTION:
Bill Workers' Compensation Visit
Question: Our pulmonologist saw a patient as a follow-up for a workers' compensation clai... Read more
READER QUESTION:
Watch Out for X-Ray Components
Question: How should I bill for x-ray interpretation when we do not own the equipment? Il... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Reporting 90782 Multiple Times
Question: Can I report 90782 for injection administration multiple times with multiple inj... Read more
Available Years:  2004  2003  2002  2001  2000