Pulmonology Coding Alert
Sleep May Not Justify Medical Necessity
Seattle Subscriber
Answer: In order to meet the criteria for completing sleep studies, the patient would have to sleep in the sleep laboratory for at least six hours. But, it would be difficult for any practice to justify admitting a patient to the hospital just to sleep.
Usually, a patient will not require hospitalization less than 24 hours after a bronchoscopy unless a significant complication occurred before, during, or after the bronchoscopy. Otherwise, bronchoscopies do not require an overnight stay. Therefore, you should not bill for your observations unless you can justify medical necessity.
Pulmonology Coding Alert
- Case Study:
Put Your Bronchoscopy Coding Knowledge to The Test
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Multiple Tube Changes
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Sleep May Not Justify Medical Necessity
Question: When the pulmonologist in our practice completes bronchoscopies and sleep studies, sometimes he admits [...] - Reader Questions:
Consider Plan of Service for Asthma Dx
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You Can Overlook Time Limits With Consults
Question: If I perform an office consultation on a patient, how much time must elapse [...] - Reader Questions:
31624 May Cover All Services
Question: I know that the National Correct Coding Initiative allows us to bill 31624 with [...]
