Airway, Bronchoscopy, and Codes

Codes Discussed: 99151-99153 (Moderate sedation provided by the performing physician), 99155-99157 (Moderate sedation provided by another physician), 0781T (Rigid or flexible bronchoscopy with insertion of esophageal protection device and circumferential radiofrequency destruction of pulmonary nerves, bilateral mainstem bronchi), 0782T (Rigid or flexible bronchoscopy with insertion of esophageal protection device and circumferential radiofrequency destruction of pulmonary nerves, unilateral mainstem bronchus), 31622 (Diagnostic bronchoscopy with cell washing, when performed), 31623 (Bronchoscopy with brushing or protected brushings), 31624 (Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage/BAL), 31624-52 (BAL via tracheostomy or endotracheal tube with reduced services modifier), 31625 (Bronchoscopy with bronchial or endobronchial biopsy, single or multiple sites), 31628 (Bronchoscopy with transbronchial lung biopsy, single lobe), +31632 (Bronchoscopy with transbronchial lung biopsy, each additional lobe), 31629 (Bronchoscopy with needle aspiration biopsy, upper airway or lobe), +31633 (Bronchoscopy with needle aspiration biopsy, each additional lobe), 31626 (Bronchoscopy with placement of fiducial marker[s]), +31627 (Bronchoscopy with computer-assisted image-guided navigation), 31615 (Bronchoscopy code referenced as allowable primary code with navigational bronchoscopy), 31622-31631 (Bronchoscopy code range referenced as allowable with navigational bronchoscopy), 31635 (Bronchoscopy with removal of foreign body), 31636 (Bronchoscopy with bronchial stent placement, initial bronchus), 31638 (Bronchoscopy with revision of tracheal or bronchial stent), 31640 (Bronchoscopy with excision of tumor), 31641 (Bronchoscopy with destruction of tumor or relief of stenosis by any method), 31643 (Bronchoscopy code referenced in Category III code exclusion and EBUS add-on guidance), 31645 (Bronchoscopy with therapeutic aspiration of tracheobronchial tree, initial), 31646 (Bronchoscopy with therapeutic aspiration of tracheobronchial tree, subsequent during same hospital stay), 31647 (Bronchoscopy with insertion of bronchial valve[s], initial lobe), 31648 (Bronchoscopy with removal of bronchial valve[s], initial lobe), +31649 (Bronchoscopy with removal of bronchial valve[s], each additional lobe), +31651 (Bronchoscopy with insertion of bronchial valve[s], each additional lobe), 31652 (Bronchoscopy with EBUS-guided transtracheal/transbronchial sampling of one or two mediastinal and/or hilar lymph node stations or structures), 31653 (Bronchoscopy with EBUS-guided transtracheal/transbronchial sampling of three or more mediastinal and/or hilar lymph node stations or structures), +31654 (Bronchoscopy with EBUS during bronchoscopic intervention for peripheral lesion[s]), 31660 (Bronchoscopy with bronchial thermoplasty, one lobe), 31661 (Bronchoscopy with bronchial thermoplasty, two or more lobes), 31630 (Bronchoscopy with tracheal/bronchial dilation or closed reduction of fracture), 31631 (Bronchoscopy with tracheal stent placement), +31637 (Bronchoscopy with bronchial stent placement, each additional major bronchus), 31634 (Bronchoscopy with balloon occlusion, air leak assessment, and occlusive substance administration when performed), 31725 (Catheter aspiration of tracheobronchial tree with fiberscope at bedside), 96570 (Photodynamic therapy code reported with 31641 when appropriate), 96571 (Photodynamic therapy code reported with 31641 when appropriate), 30901 (Control of nasal hemorrhage, referenced as not separately reportable when integral to endoscopic procedures), modifier 52 (Reduced services), CPT code range 31622-31627 (Bronchoscopy codes representing bilateral procedures), CPT code range 31622-31638 (Bronchoscopy codes not reported with 0781T/0782T), CPT code range 31645-31649 (Bronchoscopy codes not reported with 0781T/0782T), CPT code range 31651-31654 (Bronchoscopy codes not reported with 0781T/0782T)

Topics Covered: bronchoscopy coding, airway coding, respiratory anatomy for coders, upper respiratory tract anatomy, nose, nostrils, nasal cavity, mouth, oral cavity, pharynx, throat, larynx, voice box, lower respiratory tract anatomy, trachea, carina, lungs, lung lobes, lung segments, air conduction, main bronchi, lobar bronchi, segmental bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, rigid bronchoscopy, flexible bronchoscopy, visualization of airway and lungs, bronchoscopy diagnostic indications, bronchoscopy therapeutic procedures, tumors, airway blockage, narrowed airways, airway inflammation, respiratory infection, tuberculosis, pneumonia, fungal infection, interstitial pulmonary disease, persistent cough, hemoptysis, x-ray follow-up, vocal cord paralysis, bronchoscopy with biopsy, sputum collection, bronchoalveolar lavage, BAL coding, secretion removal, blood removal, mucus plug removal, airway growth removal, control of bleeding in bronchi, foreign body removal, laser therapy, radiation treatment, airway tube placement, drainage of pus, CPT bronchoscopy guidelines, diagnostic bronchoscopy bundling, surgical bronchoscopy includes diagnostic bronchoscopy, fluoroscopic guidance bundling, moderate sedation reporting, bilateral bronchoscopy procedures, endoscopy code per anatomic site, CPT Category III bronchoscopy codes, pulmonary nerve radiofrequency destruction, esophageal protection device, mainstem bronchus treatment, diagnostic bronchoscopy separate procedure rules, cell washing coding, bronchial brushing coding, protected brushings, bronchial alveolar lavage, bronchoalveolar lavage versus cell washing, lavage aliquots, larger airway washing, lower airway sampling, bronchioles, alveolar spaces, reduced services modifier for BAL via tracheostomy or endotracheal tube, bronchoscopy examples, endotracheal tube bronchoscopy, culture and sensitivity collection, aerobic culture, anaerobic culture, fungal culture, TB culture, brush biopsy, laryngeal mask airway, LMA, vocal cord edema, tracheomalacia, bronchomalacia, dynamic airway collapse, fixed airway collapse, airway edema, right lower lobe BAL, bronchoscopy with biopsy coding, bronchial biopsy, endobronchial biopsy, EBB coding, transbronchial lung biopsy, TBLB coding, needle aspiration biopsy, transbronchial needle aspiration, Wang needle biopsy, biopsy forceps, right lower lobe biopsy, right upper lobe biopsy, fluoroscopy included in bronchoscopy codes, single-lobe biopsy coding, multiple-site biopsy coding, fiducial marker placement, tumor localization before surgery or radiation, navigational bronchoscopy, computer-assisted image-guided navigation, 3D virtual roadmap, tracheal dilation, bronchial dilation, closed reduction of tracheal or bronchial fracture, tracheal stenosis, post-tracheostomy stenosis, pulmonary dilation catheter, balloon dilation, bronchoscopy with stenting, dilation bundled into stenting, tracheal stent coding, bronchial stent coding, bronchial stent revision, balloon occlusion, bronchopleural fistula, air leak assessment, fibrin glue, occlusive substance administration, foreign body removal, snare removal, basket removal, biopsy forceps removal, implanted bronchial valve removal, brushings with foreign body removal, biopsy with foreign body removal, distinct bronchoscopy procedures, tumor excision, tumor destruction, stenosis relief, laser therapy, cryotherapy, photodynamic therapy, therapeutic aspiration, tracheobronchial tree aspiration, bedside fiberoptic aspiration, bronchial valve services, endobronchial valve insertion, endobronchial valve removal, persistent air leak, post-lung resection air leak, chest tube, initial lobe valve insertion, additional lobe valve insertion, initial lobe valve removal, additional lobe valve removal, same-session bronchial valve removal and insertion, endobronchial ultrasound, EBUS coding, EBUS-guided transtracheal sampling, EBUS-guided transbronchial sampling, mediastinal lymph node stations, hilar lymph node stations, lymph node station counting, 4L lymph node station, 7 lymph node station, central endobronchial lesion sampling, peripheral airway lesion identification, radial ultrasound probe, bronchial thermoplasty, NCCI guidance for bronchoscopy, NCCI bronchoscopy edits, separate respiratory endoscopic examinations, diagnostic bronchoscopy with separate laryngoscopy, medically reasonable and necessary separate endoscopes, open surgical procedure guidance, diagnostic bronchoscopy leading to open procedure, scout bronchoscopy, intraoperative bronchoscopy, confirmatory bronchoscopy, failed surgical bronchoscopy converted to open procedure, NCCI foreign body removal example, control of bleeding integral to endoscopy, multiple bronchoscopy services not described by a single CPT code, bronchoscopy bundling rules, bronchoscopy coding examples, pulmonary coding education, respiratory procedure coding, CPT respiratory system coding, medical coding webinar content