Pulmonology Coding Alert

Question: How can we bill for demonstration of flow operated inhaler devices, such as a flutter valve? The provider demonstrated the technique to the patient twice in a day to help him better understand the procedure.

Utah Subscriber

Answer: CPT^® code 94664 (Demonstration and/or evaluation of patient utilization of an aerosol generator, nebulizer, metered dose inhaler or IPPB device) is an appropriate code to use here. You may report this code for the education on inhaler techniques, as well as demonstration of flow –operated inhaler devices. However, you may bill it only once per day.

Remember: You may not bill this code along with 94640 (Pressurized or nonpressurized inhalation treatment for acute airway obstruction for therapeutic purposes and/or for diagnostic purposes such as sputum induction with an aerosol generator, nebulizer, metered dose inhaler or intermittent positive pressure breathing [IPPB] device), especially on the same visit. To bill these two codes on the same day, the precondition is that both these procedures should have been carried out in separate patient visits.