Question:

What code is reported for aspiration/drainage procedures?

Question:

What code do we use to bill Medicare for demonstration of a nebulizer or inhaler device or for demonstrating chest-percussion techniques?

Question:

An outpatient lung cancer patient on a ventilator is receiving intermittent breathing nebulizer treatments (94640) and is also receiving Milrinone via continuous inhalation treatment with aerogen generator. The patient receives the continuous Milrinone 24 hrs/day x 5 days. The Milrinone runs for six hours and then is changed out with new pre-loaded syringe.
Is the continuous inhalation treatment; first hour 94644, billed on the first day of the five-day run, billed once per day for the 5 days, or billed each time the continuous treatment is changed out (every 6 hours)? The answer to the above question will then answer how to bill 94645 continuous inhalation treatment; each additional hour.

Question:

We assign code 94375 (respiratory flow volume loop) when a preoperative evaluation is ordered to distinguish between fixed and variable upper-airway obstructions. Can you provide any billing guideline we should know?

Question:

Can respiratory therapists (RTs) perform smoking and tobacco-use cessation counseling services for Medicare patients? Since the RTs really don’t submit claims, can the hospital bill a technical component if the services are performed by an RT under physician order (i.e., under the Medicare incident-to policy)?

Question:

Can we bill for RT when provided to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) patient?

Question:

How many times per episode can we report 94640?

Question:

When is it appropriate to report CPT code 94640?

Question:

Can you provide an example of a mutually exclusive respiratory procedure?

Question:

Last week you mentioned that 94010 and 95070 were part of the mutually exclusive procedure policy. Can you provide a little more information about this policy?