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Spirometry Testing – What’s the Purpose?

August 8th, 2011

Why Should I be Doing Spirometry Testing?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Facts:

COPD is the 3rd leading cause of death in the USA
An individual dies every 4 minutes of COPD in the United States
The best single test for detecting early COPD is a breathing test called spirometry
Treatment is more effective if given before symptoms occur

ndd Medical EasyOne Plus Diagnostic Spirometry System

Spirometry Testing is Important!

Asthma Facts

Asthma accounts for one-quarter of all emergency room visits in the U.S.each year.
With 2 million emergency room visits Asthma is the #1 cause of school absenteeism among children
accounting for more than 14 million total missed days of school.
An estimated 20 million Americans suffer from asthma (1 in 15 Americans).

Clinical Indications:

Evaluation of Smokers over the age of 45
Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
Chronic Cough
Chest Tightness or Cough with Exercise
Frequent “Colds” or “Hay Fever”
Dust or Chemicals Inhaled at Work
Pre-surgical Testing
Staging an Acute Asthma Attack
Documentation of Pulmonary Disability
Management of Patients Receiving Bronchodilators
Monitoring Congestive Heart Failure

ICD-9 Coding

Indication	ICD9-CM Code*
Shortness of Breath	786.05
Cough	786.2
Chronic Bronchitis	497.x
Emphysema	492.x
Asthma	493.x
COPD	496.x
Pre-operative Respiratory Exam	V72.82**
History of Tobacco Use	V15.82**
Bronchitis due to chemical fumes or vapor	506.x
Special screening for other and unspecified respiratory conditions	V81.4
Encounter for therapeutic drug monitoring	V58.

* Codes should always be assigned to the highest level of specificity

** Should not be assigned as principal diagnosis

CPT Coding

Code	Description	Average Reimbursement
94010	Spirometry, including graphic record, total and timed vital capacity, expiratory flow rate measurement(s), with or without maximal voluntary ventilation	$33.00
94014	Patient intiated spirometric recording per 30 day period of time; includes reinforced education, transmission of spirometric tracing, data capture, analysis of transmitted data, periodic recalibration and physician review and interpretation.	$43.00
94015	Patient recorded spirometry; Recording (includes hook-up, reinforced edication, data transmission, data capture, trend analysis, and periodic recalibration)	$23.00
94016	Patient recorded Spirometry; Physician review and interpretation only	$25.00
94060*	Bronchospasm evaluation: spirometry as in 94010, before and afater bronchodilator (aerosol or parental)	$57.00
94200	Maximum breathing capacity, maximal voluntary ventilation	$22.00
94375*	Respiratory flow volume loop	$37.00
94620	Pulmonary stress testing; simple (eg, prolonged exercise test with pre- and post-spirometry)	$65

* Codes most commonly used in primary care

Visit our ndd Spirometery page on our website for a variety of ways to use Spirometry!

ndd Medical EasyOne Plus Diagnostic Spirometry System

ndd Medical EasyOne Plus Frontline Spirometry System

Spirometry and Reimbursement

Who to Test

Spirometry should be performed on all people 45 or older who currently smoke, are former smokers, or who are regularly exposed to environmental tobacco smoking or workplace irritants such as grain dust or cotton fibers. Testing should also be done in anyone with chronic cough, excess mucious, dyspnea on exertion or wheeze. In addition, anyone with a family history of emphysema or chronic bronchitis should have a spirometric test as a part of their database.¹

Spirometry is essential to the diagnosis and management of asthma. The Expert Panel recommends that a spirometry test be done at the initial assessment, after treatment has stabilized and at least every 1-2 years when asthma is stable, more often when asthma is unstable or at another time the clinician believes it is needed.²

CPT Codes	Description	Average Reimbursement
94010	Spirometry, including graphic record, total and timed vital capacity, expiratory flow rate measurement(s), with or without maximal voluntary ventilation.	$33.00
94375	Respiratory flow volume loop	$37.00
94060	Bronchospasm evaluations: spirometry as in 94010, before and after bronchodilator (aerosol or parental)	$57.00