Pulmonology Coding Alert

Question: When I was checking out the CPT® 2012 proposed fee schedules, I was not able to find codes for complete PFT except 94060. Our pulmonologist does a lot of PFT and if the proposed fee schedule is true, we will lose a lot of revenue. Can you please help?

Answer: The reason that you did not find many of the codes for a complete PFT is that these codes have changed in 2012. CPT® has come out with new set of codes that replace the old ones in 2012.

Here is the list of the codes that have been deleted from 2012:

• 94240 -- Functional residual capacity or residual volume: helium method, nitrogen open circuit method, or other method
• 94260 -- Thoracic gas volume
• 94350 -- Determination of maldistribution of inspired gas: multiple breath nitrogen washout curve including alveolar nitrogen or helium equilibration time
• 94360 -- Determination of resistance to airflow, oscillatory or plethysmographic methods
• 94370 -- Determination of airway closing volume, single breath tests
• 94720 -- Carbon monoxide diffusing capacity [e.g., single breath, steady state]
• 94725 -- Membrane diffusion capacity.

Here is a complete list of the newly added codes from 2012:

• 94726 -- Plethysmography for determination of lung volumes and, when performed, airway resistance
• 94727 -- Gas dilution or washout for determination of lung volumes and, when performed, distribution of ventilation and closing volumes
• 94728 -- Airway resistance by impulse oscillometry
• +94729 -- Diffusing capacity [e.g., carbon monoxide, membrane] [List separately in addition to code for primary procedure]
• 94780 -- Car seat/bed testing for airway integrity, neonate, with continual nursing observation and continuous recording of pulse oximetry, heart rate and respiratory rate, with interpretation and report; 60 minutes
• +94781 -- Car seat/bed testing for airway integrity, neonate, with continual nursing observation and continuous recording of pulse oximetry, heart rate and respiratory rate, with interpretation and report; each additional full 30 minutes [List separately in addition to code for primary procedure].