Pulmonology Coding Alert
Think Twice When Reporting 93720 and PFTs
Question: Can I bill Medicare for code 93720 in addition to the other PFT codes? Answer: CPT 93720 (Plethysmography, total body; with interpretation and report) measures thoracic gas volume, compliance of the lung, airway resistance and airway conductance.
Oregon Subscriber
Carriers will consider any pulmonary function tests (PFTs) that measure any of these factors (such as, 94260, Thoracic gas volume; 94360, Determination of resistance to airflow, oscillatory or plethysmographic methods; or 94750, Pulmonary compliance study) as components of plethysmography, even if the physician performs the test using different methods.
You should not include other medically necessary PFTs that provide different lung measurements performed on the same day as plethysmography, a component of 93720. Therefore, you should report the other medically necessary PFTs as long as your documentation can support that it was completed as a separate and necessary procedure.
- Answers for You be the Coder and Reader Questions were reviewed by Carol Pohlig, BSN, RN, CPC, senior coding and education specialist at the University of Pennsylvania department of medicine in Philadelphia; and Alan L. Plummer, MD, professor of medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.
Pulmonology Coding Alert
- Watch the Spring Showers Bring on Bundles of Pay for All Your Critical Allergy Cases
Test your knowledge against the following scenario and see if you make the anaphylaxis A+ [...] - You Be the Coder:
Don't Overlook the 2-Step Process for 86580
Question: Does anyone bill for purified protein derivative (PPD) interpretation? If so, would you please [...] - HCPCS 2005 Update:
Administering Combination Nebulizer Meds? Read On
Now CMS makes it easier for you to report compound solutions Just when you thought [...] - Correction:
Modifiers -26 and -TC
The March 2005 Pulmonology Coding Alert article titled "Follow This Modifier -26 and -TC Decision [...] - Learn the Difference Between -50, -LT and -RT
Modifier -50 can bring your practice 150 percent of the fee schedule amount You could [...] - Reader Questions:
Keep ECGs and MSLTs Straight
Question: Do carriers consider a 24-hour ECG part of a polysomnography or MSLT? We have [...] - Reader Questions:
Modifier -78 May Remedy Multiple Physician Pay
Question: If physician 1 in our group practice provides post-op care for a patient whom [...] - Clip-and-Save Chart:
Use This Simple Tool to Keep the Bilateral Billing Rules at Your Fingertips
If you're tired of flipping though the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for advice every time [...] - Reader Questions:
Capture All Services With Allergy Injections
Question: Which code should we report when the doctor spends 15-20 minutes observing the patient [...] - Reader Questions:
Think Twice When Reporting 93720 and PFTs
Question: Can I bill Medicare for code 93720 in addition to the other PFT codes?
Oregon [...]
