Effects of radiation, unspecified (990)

Question: A new patient visited a pulmonology practice after experiencing shortness of breath while working out. The physician ordered an exercise test with electrocardiographic recordings as well as pulse oximetry and spirometry before and after the exercise test. The patient did [...]

A longtime nonprofit hospice in Tennessee continues to get flack about a potential sale to a for-profit chain. The Christy-Houston Foundation in Murfreesboro, which gave more than $3 million to help Alive Hospice build a facility in Rutherford County, has [...]

Question: A patient was referred to our pulmonology practice by their general practitioner (GP). The patient complained of shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing after exercising outdoors. During the history of present illness, the patient attested that they’ve never experienced [...]

Look for advice on how to handle proper sequencing. Now that winter is officially here, if you feel like your asthma coding knowledge could use a little TLC, keep reading. Why is winter prime time for this refresher? Asthma sufferers [...]

Is severity the key to unlock a proper J45.- assignment? Find out. Knowing how to properly code J45.- (Asthma) diagnoses can be tricky for even the most experienced coders. Many factors come into play, including severity, guidelines, and the patient’s [...]

Hint: Understanding severity is crucial for coding asthma accurately. There are some misunderstandings surrounding asthma diagnosis coding, but some clinical knowledge and a focus on ICD-10 guidelines can help coders get on the straight and narrow. Check out these four [...]

Plus: Hospice stiffed its workers too, DOL says. If you were wondering how hard the feds are coming down on wage-related home care infractions, a group of cases this month will show you. Case #1: A Pennsylvania federal court has [...]

Question: I just started a new job as a pulmonology coder, and I have very minimal experience coding respiratory conditions. I have a report that lists a patient’s diagnosis as exercise-induced asthma. The provider’s report doesn’t indicate the severity of the [...]

Understand severity levels for flawless J45.- assignment. The myths surrounding the J45.- (Asthma) codes may be few, but they are tenacious. Fortunately, they are also easily dispelled with a little clinical knowledge and an understanding of two significant ICD-10 guidelines. [...]

What services does CPET include? Find out. Pulmonologists may order exercise testing for their patients to determine the efficacy of treatment plans, test lung function, or further evaluate abnormal test results. However, not all exercise tests are the same, and [...]