Advanced Search

Pulmonology Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Reserve 465.9 For URI Without Specific Site

Published on Sat Mar 12, 2011

Question: A patient underwent two-view chest x-ray after going to the pulmonologist with complaints of wheezing, coughing, and trouble catching her breath. The ordering physician documented focal rhonchi and ordered the x-ray to check for acute bronchitis or pneumonia. The chest x-ray results revealed bronchitis. How should I code this case?Alaska SubscriberAnswer: For the x-ray, you should report 71020 (Radiologic examination, chest, 2 views, frontal and lateral). Link 71020 to the appropriate bronchitis code, based on your documentation: 466.0 (Acute bronchitis).To further support the chest x-ray, you should report the signs and symptoms as secondary diagnoses. For example, you may report 786.7 (Symptoms involving respiratory system and other chest symptoms; abnormal chest sounds) for the rhonchi, which are snore-like sounds caused by the narrowed airway.
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Pulmonology Coding Alert

View All