Pulmonology Coding Alert

In the April 2004 Pulmonology Coding Alert, the article "3 Answers Improve Your Ventilator Coding Reimbursement by $100" on page 25 stated, "The physician hooks a mask onto a mechanical ventilator in the mobile intensive care unit (MICU)."
 
This sentence should read, "The physician hooks a mask onto a mechanical ventilator in the medical intensive care unit (MICU)."

The article also stated, "This includes the initial or current vent settings, any changes to those parameters (for example, titration of peak-end expiratory pressure [PEEP] to keep FiO2 low) ..." The statement should read, "This includes the initial or current vent settings, any changes to those parameters (for example, titration of positive end-expiratory pressure [PEEP] to keep FiO2 low).

The article further stated, "When the physician applies the mask to a continuous positive airway pressure ventilation machine to check for positive airway pressure, you should select 94660. But if the physician is looking for negative pressure, you should use 94662."

This should read: "When the physician applies the mask to a continuous positive airway pressure ventilation (CPAP) device to deliver positive airway pressure, you should select 94660. If the physician attaches a Cuirass (negative pressure) ventilator to the patient, you should use 94662."