Pulmonology Coding Alert

Higher level E/M pays more than vent management; don't lose out on the potential $221.When you're lost between reporting a ventilation assist code and an E/M, don't look any farther. The encounter notes could provide you the answers you want. But first, you should resolve the question, "Does the physician provide ventilation assist only, or ventilation services during the course of a more comprehensive E/M service?"Here are 3 guidelines to solving the puzzle.1. Vent Therapy or E/M?CPT bundles ventilation therapy codes 94002 (Ventilation assist and management, initiation of pressure or volume preset ventilators for assisted or controlled breathing; hospital inpatient/observation, initial day), 94003 (Ventilation assist and management, initiation of pressure or volume preset ventilators for assisted or controlled breathing; hospital inpatient/observation, each subsequent day), 94660 (Continuous positive airway pressure ventilation [CPAP], initiation and management), 94662 (Continuous negative pressure ventilation [CNP], initiation and management) into E/M codes. This means you cannot [...]