Respiratory Question for the Week of August 6, 2018

Question:

How should a series of back-to-back continuous inhalation therapy treatments be coded?

Answer:

Billing the following codes would be appropriate for coding a series of back-to-back continuous inhalation therapy treatments when the total time equals one hour or more:

94644 Continuous inhalation treatment with aerosol medication for acute airway obstruction; first hour
94645 each additional hour (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

The above instruction was revised by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in the 2018 National Correct Coding Initiative Manual for Medicare Services. This change to NCCI policy places emphasis on the need for accurate recording of start and stop times for the individual treatments and documentation that allows for capture of total therapy time.


This question was answered in the 2018 edition of our Coding Essentials for RT/Pulmonary Function. For more hot topics relating to respiratory therapy services, please view our store, or call us at 1.800.252.1578 ext. 2.

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