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Pulmonology Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Forget About Coding for Home Therapy

Published on Sat Feb 27, 2010

Question: A pulmonologist orders home chest physiotherapy (CPT) by a respiratory therapist for a child with chronic asthma. The child also has gastric reflux and receives tube feedings, when his respiratory condition is unstable. Can I report this procedure even if it is administered at home? What code should I use? Georgia Subscriber Answer: No. A pulmonologist or any other physician cannot bill for an order for therapy given in the home. This would include home chest physiotherapy, home O2 therapy, and home bronchodilator therapy. Exception: The pulmonologist could bill for his related therapies if performed in the office. You would report 94667 (Manipulation chest wall, such as cupping, percussing, and vibration to facilitate ung function; initial demonstration and/or evaluation) or 94640 (Pressurized or nonpressurized inhalation treatment for acute airway obstruction or for sputum induction for diagnostic purposes [eg. with an aerosol generator, nebulizer, metered dose inhaler or intermittent positive [...]
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