CPT code 94620 Pulmonary Stress Testing; simple (eg, 6-minute walk test, prolonged exercise test for bronchospasm with pre- and post-spirometry and oximetry) has been deleted and replaced by two new codes. Cpt Code 94617 Exercise test for bronchospasm, including pre- and postspirometry, electrocardiographic recording(s), and pulse oximetry describes the procedure used to assess for exercise-induced bronchospasm. CPT code 94618 Pulmonary stress testing (eg, 6-minute walk test), including measurement of heart rate, oximetry, and oxygen titration, when performed, describes the typical simple pulmonary stress test.

If CPT code 94620 is used, the claim will be denied. CPT code 94621 Cardiopulmonary exercise testing, including measurements of minute ventilation, CO2 production, O2 uptake, and electrocardiographic recordings has been reworded to better describe the procedure of cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

Additionally, there are numerous parentheticals appended that list the CPT codes that may not be used in conjunction with 94617, 94618, and 94621. Please refer to the 2018 CPT manual for further information on these exclusions.

Code 94617 should be used to report excercise testing for purpose of identifying bronchospasm-the physician is present for the excercise portion of procedure. Data is analyzed and interpretation is written in medical record.

Code 96418-Data on Oxygen saturation, heart rate, distance measured 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 minutes are reviewed.Blood pressure reviewed before and after excercise. Dyspnea index is reviewed. Data analysed with old data and documented.


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