Pulmonology Coding Alert

Know when to report nebulizer demonstrations with therapy. Accurately reporting nebulizer inhalation treatments depends on your assessment of all the services that your pulmonologist performed during that session. Apply the guidance that follows to nail down nebulizer session particulars and capture all associated services. Assess Oximetry, Multiple Treatments Your pulmonologist may use oximetry and spirometry to evaluate the patient and then decide to manage the patient's symptoms with inhalation treatment using an aerosol generator such as Advair Diskus. You would then use 94640 (Pressurized or nonpressurized inhalation treatment for acute airway obstruction or for sputum induction for diagnostic purposes [e.g., with an aerosol generator, nebulizer, metered dose inhaler or intermittent positive pressure breathing [IPPB] device]) for the services. Oximetry is bundled into 94640 and should not be reported separately whereas the spirometry (94010, Spirometry, including graphic record, total and timed vital capacity, expiratory flow rate measurement[s], with or without maximal [...]