Advanced Search

Pulmonology Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Pulmonary Function Test

Published on Mon Dec 31, 2012

 

Question: How is interpretation of a pulmonary function test for a patient with suspected COPD coded when the results are abnormal? What about normal results?

Indiana Subscriber
 
Answer: Under Medicare ICD-9 coding rules effective Jan. 1, 2002, the pulmonologist must bill for interpretation of this service using the confirmed diagnosis of the test, rather than the diagnosis or symptoms that prompted the test.
 
If abnormal, the pulmonary function test is coded 794.2 (nonspecific abnormal result of pulmonary function studies) or 786.00 (respiratory abnormality, unspecified). The signs and/or symptoms that prompted ordering the test may be reported as additional diagnoses if they are not fully explained or related to the confirmed diagnosis.
 
If the test is normal, code for the signs and symptoms that initially prompted the test.
 
� Answers to Reader Questions and You Be The Coder provided by Mary Mulholland, RN, BSN, CPC, a reimbursement analyst for the office of clinical documentation at the University of Pennsylvania�s department of medicine in Philadelphia; Carol Pohlig, BSN, RN, CPC, reimbursement analyst for the department of medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Sue Prophet, RHIA, CCS, director of classification and coding for the Chicago-based American Health Information Management Association; Walter O�Donohue, MD, FCCP, FACP, chairman of the CPT committee of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) and a representative to the AMA CPT advisory committee for ACCP; and Kathy Pride, CPC,CCS-P, coding consultant for Quadramed, a California-based medical consulting firm.

Other Articles in this issue of

Pulmonology Coding Alert

View All