Advanced Search

Pulmonology Coding Alert

Understand Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Procedure Coding

Published on Wed Mar 24, 2004

Using signs-and-symptoms codes makes all the difference

Don't get lost in a sea of ICD-9 codes that your pulmonologist reports while examining a patient for suspected hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Refer to the list of procedure codes and definitions below to help you link the signs and symptoms codes to the right procedure.

Bronchoscopies

  •  31622 -- Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible, with or without fluoroscopic guidance; diagnostic, with or without cell washing (separate procedure)
  •  31623 -- ... with brushing or protected brushings
  •  31624 -- ... with bronchial alveolar lavage
  •  31625 -- ... with bronchial or endobronchial biopsy(s), single or multiple sites
  •  31628 -- ... with transbronchial lung biopsy(s), single lobe.

    Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs)

  •  94010 -- Spirometry, including graphic record, total and timed vital capacity, expiratory flow rate measurement(s), with or without maximal voluntary ventilation
  •  94240 -- Functional residual capacity or residual volume: helium method, nitrogen open circuit method, or other method
  •  94375 -- Respiratory flow volume loop
  •  94720 -- Carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (e.g., single breath, steady state).

    Use This Real-Life Coding Example

    What to do: Suppose prior to establishing an official diagnosis, the pulmonologist uses a bronchoscopy with brushings (31623, Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible, with or without fluoroscopic guidance; with brushing or protected brushings) to check for hypersensitivity pneumonitis. The patient, whose occupation has exposed him to environmental antigens, presented with chest pain (786.50), fatigue (780.79), and fever (780.6). Therefore, the physician would link these conditions to 31623 to support medical necessity.

    • Other Articles in this issue of

    Pulmonology Coding Alert

    View All