Respiratory Question for the Week of May 31, 2021

Question:

Are inpatient RT services included in room & board?

Answer:

For Medicare cost reporting purposes, respiratory therapy services are considered ancillary services. From a billing perspective when a respiratory therapist or technician furnishes respiratory or pulmonary function services, the services are covered as separately billable ancillary services under the inpatient hospital benefit. When a nurse furnishes services not requiring the skills of a respiratory therapist, the service would constitute routine nursing services covered as such under the inpatient hospital benefit (room and board). The service would not be separately billable as the cost is already captured under the room and board rate.

This question was answered in our annual Respiratory Therapy Reimbursement & Compliance Update webcast. For more hot topics relating to respiratory services, please visit our store or call us at 1.800.252.1578, ext. 2.