Pulmonary CPTs 32551, 32550, 32560, 32421

 cpt code and Descripiton

** 32421 - Thoracentesis, puncture of pleural cavity for aspiration, initial or subsequent  (Identical to code 32000)

** 32422 - Thoracentesis with insertion of tube, includes water seal (e.g., for pneumothorax) (separate procedure)  (Nearly identical to code 32002; 32422 specifies the inclusion of a water seal)

** 32560 - Chemical pleurodesis (e.g., for recurrent or persistent pneumothorax)  (Identical to code 32005)

** 32550 - Insertion of indwelling tunneled pleural catheter with cuff  (Identical to code 32019)

** 32551 - Tube thoracostomy, includes water seal (e.g., for abscess hemothorax, empyema) when performed (separate procedure)  (Nearly identical to code 32020; 32551 specifies the inclusion of a water seal)



A tube thoracostomy (CPT code 32551) may be performed for drainage of an abscess, empyema, or hemothorax. The code descriptor for CPT code 32551 defines it as a “separate procedure”. It is not separately reportable when performed at the same patient encounter as another open procedure of the thorax unless it is performed in the thoracic cavity contralateral to the one entered to perform the open thoracic procedure.

A chest tube insertion procedure (e.g., CPT codes 32550, 32551, 32554, 32555) is often followed by a chest radiologic examination to confirm the proper location and positioning of the chest tube. A chest radiologic examination CPT code (e.g., 71010, 71020) should not be reported separately for this radiologic examination.

Example 11: Column 1 Code / Column 2 Code – 32551/71020 >CPT Code 32551 – Tube thoracostomy, includes connection to drainage system (eg, water seal), when performed, open (separate procedure) >CPT Code 71020 – Radiologic examination, chest, 2 views, frontal and lateral; Modifier 59 may be reported if, later in the day following the insertion of a chest tube, the patient develops a high fever and a chest x-ray is performed to rule out pneumonia. CPT code 71020 should not be reported and modifier 59 should not be used for a chest x-ray that is performed following insertion of a chest tube in order to verify correct placement of the tube.

Modifier 59 is used appropriately for a diagnostic procedure which occurs subsequent to a completed therapeutic procedure only when the diagnostic procedure is not a common, expected, or necessary follow-up to the therapeutic procedure.

Pulmonary Codes Fee Schedule - FL

CPT Code	Description	Mod	POS	Medicare Allowed Amount for Office	Medicare Allowed Amount for Hospital
10021	FNA W/O IMAGE	-	Office	133.47	71.87
31500	INTUBATION	-	Hospital	-	115.17
31510	LARYNGOSCOPY WITH BIOPSY	-	Hospital	198.33	121.69
31622	BRONCH DIAG WITH AND W O BRUSH	-	Hospital	298.88	150.5
31623	BRONCH WITH BRUSHING OR PROTECTED BRUSHING	-	Hospital	321.16	149.67
31624	BRONCH WITH LAVAGE	-	Hospital	300.16	150.37
31625	BRONCH WITH BIOPSY ENDOSCOPIC	-	Hospital	324.86	174.73
31628	BRONCH WITH FLUROSCOPY	-	Hospital	382.81	193.13
31629	BRONCH WITH TRANSBORON NEEDLE ASP W  ANGIO	51	Hospital	580.97	208.61
31635	BRONCH WITH REMOVAL OF FOREIGN BODY	51	Hospital	316.35	194.89
31645	BRONCH WITH THERAPEUTIC ASP OF TRACH INITIAL	-	Hospital	219.56	164.17
31646	BRONCH WITH ASPIRATION TRACH TREE	-	Hospital	264.29	142.5
32421	THORA PUNTCURE OF PLURAL CAVITY	59	Hospital	149.97	79.28
32422	THORACENTESIS WITH TUBE INSERTION	-	Hospital	191.86	126.76
32551	TUBE THORACOSTOMY WITH OR W O WATER SEAL	-	Hospital	182.23	-
32560	CHEMICAL PLEURODESIS	-	Hospital	250.33	89.7
36556	CENTRAL LINE PLACEMENT	-	Hospital	227.69	127.25
36620	ARTERIAL CATH	-	Hospital	52.14	-
36680	INSERT NEEDLE, BONE CAVITY	-	Hospital	64.45	-
36800	INSERTION OF CANNULA	-	Hospital	165.4	-
42802	BIOPSY OF THROAT	-	Hospital	219.9	132.06
43752	NASOGASTRIC TUBE PLACEMENT	-	Hospital	42.76	-
86580	PPD test	-	Office	6.92	-
90471	Vaccine Administration	-	Office	21.1	-
90472	IMMUNIZATION ADMIN	-	Office	10.93	8.13
92950	CPR	-	Hospital	272.21	180.52
93010	EKG INTERPERATION	-	Hospital	9.21	-
94010	SPIROMETRY	-	Office	32.23	8.51
94010	SPIROMETRY		Hospital	32.23	-
94010	SPIROMETRY	26	Hospital	8.51	-
94060	BRONCHOSPASM PRE & POST	-	Office	55.82	-
94060	BRONCHOSPASM PRE & POST	26	Office	-	14.96
94240	LUNG VOLUME	-	Office	37.22	-
94240	LUNG VOLUME	26	Office	-	12.45
94350	LUNG NITROGEN WASHOUT CURVE	-	Office	33.02	-
94350	LUNG NITROGEN WASHOUT CURVE	-	Office	-	12.45
94370	BREATH AIRWAY CLOSING VOLUME	-	Office	32.32	-
94370	BREATH AIRWAY CLOSING VOLUME	-	Office	-	12.45
94664	Inhaler demonstration and/or evaluation of patient utilization	-	Office	13.92	-
94720	MONOXIDE DIFFUSING CAPACITY	-	Office	48.42	-
94720	MONOXIDE DIFFUSING CAPACITY	26	Office	-	12.45
94760	Oximetry	-	Office	2.72	-
94761	Oximetry multiple	-	Office	4.12	-
95805	MULTIPLE SLEEP LATENCY TEST	-	Hospital	378.68	-
95805	MULTIPLE SLEEP LATENCY TEST	26	Hospital	91.24	-
95810	BASELINE SLEEP STUDY	-	Hospital	735.94	-
95810	BASELINE SLEEP STUDY	26	Hospital	169.62	-
95811	CPAP SLEEP STUDY	-	Hospital	812.64	-
95811	CPAP SLEEP STUDY	26	Hospital	183.4	-
96372	Injection administration	-	Office	21.1	-                           Check your Local Medicare too