CPT® 2012 Update: Look to This Diffusing Capacity Change To Simplify Your PFT Reporting   (January 2012)

CPT® simplifies reporting by combining two codes into one. Have you ever struggled with differentiating between pulmonary function tests such as carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) and membrane diffusion capacity (DMCO)? If your answer to this is yes, then you’ll be pleased to hear that effective Jan.1, 2012, CPT® has reduced your burden by combining these two codes into a single code. Read on for more on this change and how to adjust your reporting [...]

Understanding Diffusing Capacity Tests   (January 2012)

Carbon monoxide diffusing capacity and membrane diffusion capacity form a part of complete pulmonary function tests that also include spirometry, lung volume(s), flow volume loop and airway resistance.Carbon monoxide diffusing capacity is a pulmonary function test that helps measure the available surface of the lung for diffusion. It also gives an idea about the volume of blood in the pulmonary capillaries, as well as finding the thickness of the alveolar capillary barriers. The test also [...]

ICD-10 Update: J67.0 Transforms Your Farmer’s Lung Reporting in 2013   (January 2012)

Use history and symptoms hand-in-hand to arrive at the right diagnosis.Currently, if your pulmonologist arrives at the diagnosis of farmer’s lung, you need to report it with the ICD-9 code 495.0 (Farmers’ lung). When ICD-9 transforms to ICD-10 effective October 1, 2013, the ICD-10 code for farmers’ lung will change to J67.0 (Farmer’s lung). However, the descriptor under ICD-10 will remain the same as in ICD-9. Read on for more on the condition and how [...]

Coding Tips: Part 2: Boost Your Thoracentesis Coding Accuracy With This Advice   (January 2012)

Observe these pointers for reporting additional procedures.Last month, we provided a refresher on accurately reporting thoracentesis. In this issue, we’ll address how to report other procedures that are done along with thoracentesis, such as the radiological assistance for the procedure and E/M services. Read on for more advice on boosting your coding accuracy and recouping deserved pay for these additional services. Know the basics: Thoracentesis is a procedure done under local anesthesia to remove fluid [...]

You Be the Coder: Diminish Tracheostomy Tube Change Confusion   (January 2012)

Question: Our pulmonologist wants to bill for changing a trach tube for an established tract. I have been looking and the only CPT® code that I can find is 31502. Can an established tract tube change be reported using this code or is there any other code that is more appropriate?Nevada SubscriberAnswer: If the tracheostomy tube change has been done prior to an establishment of fistula tract from anterior neck portion to trachea, the change [...]

Reader Question: Should Cell Washing Be Bundled With Other Bronchoscopy Procedures?   (January 2012)

Question: Our pulmonologist recently performed a resection procedure for an endobronchial tumor using electrocautery. He also had to undertake about an hour of critical care in addition to a basic cell washing procedure during the bronchoscopy. Please let me know if the cell washing can be reported along with the resection and the other codes that I need to report for the procedures conducted?New Mexico SubscriberAnswer: Generally, a diagnostic bronchoscopy with a cell washing procedure [...]

Reader Question: Avoid Home Sleep Monitoring Devices Dilemmas   (January 2012)

Question: We provide the HST Type IV home sleep monitoring device to our patients for conducting home sleep studies. We have been billing G0400 on day one that is being denied as it is in the office setting and 95806-PC for the interpretations by our pulmonologist on the next day. I am now being informed that we need to report the device with G0400-TC and that will be paid. Is this correct?California SubscriberAnswer: As per [...]

Reader Question: Don’t Sweat Over Deleted Codes in PFT   (January 2012)

Question: When I was checking out the CPT® 2012 proposed fee schedules, I was not able to find codes for complete PFT except 94060. Our pulmonologist does a lot of PFT and if the proposed fee schedule is true, we will lose a lot of revenue. Can you please help?Answer: The reason that you did not find many of the codes for a complete PFT is that these codes have changed in 2012. CPT® has [...]

Preventive Service: G0436, G0437 Seal Your Asymptomatic Tobacco Use Preventive Counseling Coding   (December 2011)

Reserve codes 99406-99407 for symptomatic counseling claims. When an asymptomatic Medicare patient who uses tobacco presents to your office, make sure you’re reporting expanded smoking and tobacco-use cessation counseling codes — G0436 and G0437 — to ethically recoup documented counseling time. Check out some tips on what you need to know to code and bill for these services: Don’t Miss Cessation Counseling Waiver If you think you should use G codes to replace the usual [...]

Know 3 Eligibility Criteria   (December 2011)

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance for the preventive service began nearly a year ago, on Jan. 1, 2011, but asymptomatic patients became eligible for the counseling benefit on Aug. 25, 2010 (retroactive coverage). CR 7133 instructs that, effective for claims with dates of service on and after August 25, 2010, CMS will cover counseling to prevent tobacco use for outpatient and hospitalized Medicare beneficiaries:Who use tobacco (regardless of whether they have [...]