Pulmonology Coding Alert

This checklist deters payback requests for insufficient +99354 time. After spending almost an hour stabilizing an acute asthmatic, an extra $60 can be in store provided you make the right choice between coding prolonged services or a higher-level E/M. Case study: A patient requires two nebulizer treatments and lengthy evaluation time due to an exacerbation of asthma (493.02, Extrinsic asthma; with [acute] exacerbation). Which of the following E/M options would you report: A. 99214 -- Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient, which requires at least 2 of these 3 key components: a detailed history; a detailed examination; medical decision making of moderate complexity ... Usually, the presenting problems are of moderate to high severity. Physicians typically spend 25 minutes face-to-face with the patient and/or family. and +99354 -- Prolonged physician service in the office or other outpatient setting requiring direct (face-toface) patient contact beyond the [...]