Pulmonology Coding Alert
ABG Review Payment Is Not an Option
Question: How should I bill for a pulmonologist who goes to the hospital and reviews arterial blood gas (ABG) results for all of our group's patients? Answer: Most Medicare and private payers will not reimburse practices for reviewing ABG results. If your pulmonologist withdrew the arterial blood sample, you could report 36600 (Arterial puncture, withdrawal of blood for diagnosis) or 36620 (Arterial catheterization or cannulation for sampling, monitoring or transfusion [separate procedure]; percutaneous), depending on the physician's method.
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When the physician analyzes the specimen, you can assign 82800-82810, depending on the analytes the physician measured.
For instance, if the physician measured only gases and blood, you would use 82800 (Gases, blood, pH only). The analysis includes the processing of the specimen to determine the values of the analytes.
If a pulmonologist reviews the data produced from these tests, the physician can include this review as a part of the complexity of medical decision-making but should not bill separately for this service.
Pulmonology Coding Alert
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How to Earn $400 for 31622, 94010 and 99214
Get a grip on E/M and spirometry bundles
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Bronchospasm Evaluations and Modifiers
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Don't get lost in a sea of ICD-9 codes [...] - Don't Fall Prey to Pulmonology Diagnosis Coding Myths
Myth #1: You're limited to the precertified procedure and diagnosis
If you base your pulmonology diagnosis [...] - Attention, Pulmonology Coders:
Say Goodbye to Grace Periods
Tip: Review the Federal Register to update charge forms
You once had 90 days to implement [...] - Reader Question:
Modifier -59 Breaks Up Bronchoscopies
Question: The pulmonologist performed one pre-operative bronchoscopy and another more detailed post-operative bronchoscopy, both with [...] - Reader Question:
Use J0170 for Hemorrhage Drug Treatment
Question: We had a patient who was hemorrhaging, and the physician instilled 10 ccs of [...] - Reader Question:
ABG Review Payment Is Not an Option
Question: How should I bill for a pulmonologist who goes to the hospital and reviews [...] - Reader Question:
An E/M Code Works for Smoking Counseling
Question: Will insurers pay for smoking-cessation treatments? If so, what codes and documentation should we [...] - Reader Question:
Bill Once for Same-Group Critical Care
Question: May two physicians from the same group charge for critical care on the same [...] - Reader Question:
Different Bronchospasms Tell the 94060 and 94620 Story
Question: What is the difference between pre- and postspirometry (94060) and pulmonary stress testing (94620)? [...]
