Reader Question: Use 94014 for Patient-Initiated Spirometry

Question: Should I report patient-initiated spirometry on the last day of the 30-day period or per calendar month?

Virginia Subscriber

Answer: Physicians use transtelephonic spirometry, also known as patient-initiated spirometry, for ongoing spirometric analysis of lung function. These tests require the patient to perform spirometry at home, based on time intervals or criteria the physician establishes. You would not report this for a patient in the hospital.
 
Transtelephonic spirometry includes all measurements, transmissions and interpretations during a 30-day period, so you should report this on the last day of the 30-day period. When you report these services, the physician must perform the technical and professional component for each 30-day period billed. Therefore, report 94014 (Patient-initiated spirometric recording per 30-day period of time; includes reinforced education, transmission of spirometric tracing, data capture, analysis of transmitted data, periodic recalibration and physician review and interpretation) if the physician owns the equipment. If he does not own the equipment (for example, the doctor leases the equipment from an entity that maintains it), report only the interpretation and report with 94016 (... physician review and interpretation only).