Reader Question:
Methacholine Challenges
Published on Fri Dec 01, 2000
Question: Our doctor is exploring doing methacholine challenges in the office, and he has asked me for coding advice. The appropriate codes are 94070 and 95070. Should I use them together or use just one?
Montana Subscriber
Answer: These codes are not bundled. First bill 95070 (inhalation bronchial challenge testing [not including necessary pulmonary function tests]; with histamine, methacholine, or similar compounds), and then 94070 (prolonged postexposure evaluation of bronchospasm with multiple spirometric determinations after antigen, cold air, methacholine or other chemical agent, with subsequent spirometrics). Be sure to document that the physician performed the tests.
Answered by Cynthia Thompson, CPC, senior consultant at Gates, Moore & Co., a physician-practice management-consulting firm in Atlanta.
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