Pulmonology Coding Alert

Question: Can you clarify the three new codes (94011-94013) that were added in 2010 for infant pulmonary function testing?

Answer: CPT came up with new codes 94011-94013 to address the challenges in obtaining pulmonary function test results on infants. Raised Volume Rapid Thoracoabdominal Compression (RVRTC) is the technique used in these procedures and requires moderate sedation to be administered to the infant. This sedation is included in the code. CPT 94011 (Measurement of spirometric forced expiratory flows in an infant or child through 2 years of age) describes spirometric forced expiratory flow measurements using the RVRTC technique. CPT 90412 (Measurement of spirometric forced expiratory flows, before and after bronchodilator, in an infant or child through 2 years of age) describes spriometric forced expiratory flow measurements before and after administration of bronchodilator using the RVRTC technique. CPT 90413 (Measurement of lung volumes [i.e., functional residual capacity [FRC], forced vital capacity [FVC], and expiratory reserve volume [ERV] in an infant or child through 2 years of age) describes functional residual capacity FRC, FVC, AND ERV measurements using the RVRTC technique.