Pulmonology Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Give Albuterol Treatment a Go With 94660

Published on Mon Jun 21, 2010

Question: Please help me with the coding of a nebulizer packet and abuterol treatment that would be given in the office.

Wyoming Subscriber

Answer: You should report the albuterol treatment in the office using 94640 (Pressurized or non-pressurized inhalation treatment....). You code J7613 for each mg of albuterol noncompounded unit dose (1 mg) given during the treatment. You should not report the nebulizer separately because its cost is built into the code. When you're submitting 94640, make sure it's either for acute asthma (493.x1), or COPD (491.21, 491.22).

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