Pulmonology CPT Codes
Pulmonology billing centers on pulmonary function testing, and PFT codes bundle each other constantly: the basic spirometry disappears into the bronchodilator study, the diffusing capacity rides as an add-on, and full test batteries collapse into fewer codes than the tests performed. Knowing what includes what is most of the job.
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Pulmonology CPT codes
Spirometry
Baseline spirometry with graphic record. Bundles into 94060 when pre/post testing is done.
Spirometry, Pre and Post Bronchodilator
Responsiveness testing. Includes the baseline spirometry.
Diffusing Capacity (DLCO) (Add-on)
Carbon monoxide diffusing capacity. Bills as an add-on to a primary PFT code.
Nebulizer Treatment, Acute
Inhalation treatment for acute airway obstruction. Per-treatment billing with documentation.
Inhaler/Nebulizer Teaching, Initial or Subsequent
Demonstration or evaluation of inhaler technique. Once per day.
Polysomnography, Attended
In-lab attended sleep study. Home sleep tests use separate codes with lower payment.
Codes in blue have full detail pages with documentation requirements, billing mistakes, and FAQ.
Pulmonology billing notes
94060 (spirometry before and after bronchodilator) includes the basic spirometry. Billing 94010 alongside it on the same day is unbundling.
94729 (diffusing capacity, DLCO) is an add-on that bills with a primary PFT code, not alone.
94640 covers a nebulizer treatment for acute symptom relief. Multiple treatments the same day bill with units or modifier 76, and payers watch the counts.
Inhaler and nebulizer teaching (94664) bills once per day when a demonstration or evaluation of technique is documented. It pairs naturally with new inhaler prescriptions.
Sleep testing splits between in-lab polysomnography (95810/95811) and home tests. Most payers route uncomplicated suspected apnea through the home study first.
Frequently asked questions about pulmonology billing
Can I bill 94010 and 94060 together?▼
No. 94060 is spirometry before and after a bronchodilator, and the baseline spirometry is part of it. One or the other per session: 94010 when there's no bronchodilator challenge, 94060 when there is.
How does DLCO get billed?▼
As add-on code 94729 alongside the primary pulmonary function code from the same session. It never bills alone. A full PFT battery typically produces two or three codes total despite the number of individual maneuvers performed.
What documentation supports repeat nebulizer treatments in one visit?▼
Times and reassessments. Each 94640 needs the treatment time and the clinical response documented, showing the repeat was medically necessary rather than routine. Two or three treatments for an acute asthma flare is normal; identical repeats without reassessment notes draw reviews.
Sources
- Code set structure and updates: American Medical Association — CPT
- Fee schedule and component billing rules: CMS Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
- How we research and verify: our editorial policy
CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Content on this page is original educational writing, not a reproduction of AMA-copyrighted descriptions. Verify codes and payer rules before billing.