Pulmonology Coding Alert

Question: What are the coding differences between a cardiac stress test and a pulmonary stress test?


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Answer: You have two codes to use to describe pulmonary stress tests: 94620 (Pulmonary stress testing; simple [e.g., prolonged exercise test for bronchospasm with pre- and post-spirometry]) and 94621 (... complex [including measurements of CO2 production, O2 uptake, and electrocardiographic recordings]).

For cardiac stress tests, you can report 93015 (Cardiovascular stress test using maximal or submaximal treadmill or bicycle exercise, continuous electrocardiographic monitoring, and/or pharmacological stress; with physician supervision, with interpretation and report) or, depending on the service location, choose from the array of component codes 93016-93018 (Cardiovascular stress test using maximal or submaximal treadmill or bicycle exercise, continuous electrocardiographic monitoring, and/or pharmacological stress ...). The National Correct Coding Initiative bundles the cardiac stress codes (93015-93018) into the pulmonary test.

Answers for You Be the Coder and Reader Questions were reviewed by Carol Pohlig, BSN, RN, CPC, senior coding and education specialist at the University of Pennsylvania department of medicine in Philadelphia; and Alan L. Plummer, MD, professor of medicine, division of pulmonary, allergy, and critical care at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.