READER QUESTIONS:
CPAP and Hospital Care--1 Code or 2?
Published on Wed Mar 28, 2007
Question: An allergist performed CPAP (94660) in addition to 99233. Should I separately bill the service and the procedure?
Florida Subscriber
Answer: Because of National Correct Coding Initiative edits, you can never bill ventilator management (94660, Continuous positive airway pressure ventilation [CPAP], initiation and management) with an E/M code, such as 99233 (Subsequent hospital care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a patient -).
You should choose either the E/M or the ventilation management depending on the physician's documentation. Usually, the physician's documented level of assessment and decision-making will justify billing an E/M service rather than simply ventilation management.
