Pulmonology Coding Alert

Capture all aspects of therapy to maximize reimbursements. When your pulmonologist makes use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) to treat a patient with cancer, you need to report all key components of the therapy that includes infusion, bronchoscopy and the laser activation. Read on for some refresher tips to tackle photodynamic therapy reporting with confidence. Capture All Aspects of the Infusion The first step to photodynamic therapy is the intravenous infusion of Photofrin (Porfimer), which could be performed by your pulmonologist or by a nurse under the supervision of your pulmonologist. "If performed in the hospital, no charge can be made. If performed in the office, a charge can be made even though performed by a nurse since she will be supervised by the pulmonologist," says Alan L. Plummer, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. "The infusion of [...]