Basic Bronchoscopy: Technology, Techniques, and Professional Fees

Flexible bronchoscopy has evolved over the last few decades, allowing chest physicians to use advanced high-definition scopes to inspect the airways and perform various sampling techniques. Although the techniques of basic bronchoscopic sampling have not changed dramatically, documentation requirements, coding, and billing have become more complex and require a better understanding on the part of the proceduralists and practice administrators. Areas in need of attention include learning about the multiple endoscopy rule, appropriate use of modifiers, and recent changes to the Current Procedural Terminology codes, associated work relative value units for moderate sedation, and therapeutic aspiration of secretions. This article describes basic bronchoscopic procedures and the principles needed for their coding and billing.