How To Use CPT Code 31622

CPT 31622 refers to a diagnostic bronchoscopy procedure, which may include fluoroscopic guidance and cell washing. This article will cover the description, procedure, qualifying circumstances, billing guidelines, documentation requirements, historical information, similar codes, and examples of CPT 31622.

1. What is CPT 31622?

CPT 31622 is a medical code used to describe a diagnostic bronchoscopy procedure, which may be performed using a rigid or flexible bronchoscope. This procedure may include fluoroscopic guidance and cell washing when necessary. The code is used by medical professionals to accurately document and bill for this specific procedure.

2. 31622 CPT code description

The official description of CPT code 31622 is: “Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible, including fluoroscopic guidance, when performed; diagnostic, with cell washing, when performed (separate procedure)”.

3. Procedure

1. The patient is appropriately prepped and anesthetized.
2. The provider inserts the bronchoscope (rigid or flexible) through the patient’s nose or mouth.
3. The bronchoscope is advanced down the throat and into the bronchus, the main passageway to the lung.
4. Using the eyepiece, the provider examines the mucus lining or covering of the airways and looks for any abnormalities.
5. If necessary, the provider may pass saline solution through the tube to wash the airways and obtain a sample of suspicious cells (cell washing).
6. Fluoroscopic guidance may be used to guide the passage of the scope, if needed.

4. Qualifying circumstances

Patients who are eligible to receive CPT code 31622 services are those who require a diagnostic bronchoscopy to evaluate their airways and diagnose potential lung diseases. This may include patients with persistent cough, unexplained shortness of breath, recurrent lung infections, or abnormal chest imaging findings. The procedure may also be performed to obtain samples of suspicious cells for further analysis.

5. When to use CPT code 31622

It is appropriate to bill the 31622 CPT code when a diagnostic bronchoscopy is performed using a rigid or flexible bronchoscope, with or without fluoroscopic guidance, and with or without cell washing. The code should be used to accurately document and bill for this specific procedure, ensuring proper reimbursement for the services provided.

6. Documentation requirements

To support a claim for CPT 31622, the following information should be documented in the patient’s medical record:

• Indication for the procedure (e.g., persistent cough, abnormal chest imaging findings)
• Type of bronchoscope used (rigid or flexible)
• Whether fluoroscopic guidance was used
• Findings during the bronchoscopy (e.g., abnormalities in the airways)
• Whether cell washing was performed and the results of any cell analysis
• Any complications or adverse events related to the procedure

7. Billing guidelines

When billing for CPT code 31622, it is important to follow the appropriate guidelines and rules to ensure proper reimbursement. The code is considered a separate procedure, meaning it cannot be reported separately with a related procedure when performed in an anatomically related region. If the provider performs the 31622 procedure with an unrelated procedure, modifier 59 may need to be appended to 31622.

8. Historical information

CPT 31622 was added to the Current Procedural Terminology system on January 1, 1990. Since then, there have been several updates to the code’s descriptor, with the most recent change occurring on January 1, 2010.

9. Similar codes to CPT 31622

There are several similar codes to CPT 31622, which differentiate based on the specific bronchoscopy procedure performed:

• Use CPT 31623 when the provider performs rigid or flexible bronchoscopy with brushing or protected brushing, with or without fluoroscopic guidance.
• Use CPT 31624 when the provider performs rigid or flexible bronchoscopy with bronchial alveolar lavage, with or without fluoroscopic guidance.
• Use CPT 31625 when the provider performs rigid or flexible bronchoscopy with bronchial biopsy, with or without fluoroscopic guidance.
• Use CPT 31628 when the provider performs rigid or flexible bronchoscopy with transbronchial lung biopsy, with or without fluoroscopic guidance.
• Use CPT 31629 when the provider performs rigid or flexible bronchoscopy with transbronchial needle aspiration, with or without fluoroscopic guidance.

10. Examples

Here are 10 detailed examples of CPT code 31622 procedures:

1. A patient with a persistent cough undergoes a diagnostic bronchoscopy using a flexible bronchoscope without fluoroscopic guidance or cell washing.
2. A patient with abnormal chest imaging findings undergoes a diagnostic bronchoscopy using a rigid bronchoscope with fluoroscopic guidance and cell washing.
3. A patient with recurrent lung infections undergoes a diagnostic bronchoscopy using a flexible bronchoscope with fluoroscopic guidance but without cell washing.
4. A patient with unexplained shortness of breath undergoes a diagnostic bronchoscopy using a rigid bronchoscope without fluoroscopic guidance or cell washing.
5. A patient with a history of lung cancer undergoes a diagnostic bronchoscopy using a flexible bronchoscope with fluoroscopic guidance and cell washing to evaluate for recurrence.
6. A patient with suspected sarcoidosis undergoes a diagnostic bronchoscopy using a rigid bronchoscope with fluoroscopic guidance but without cell washing.
7. A patient with a history of tuberculosis undergoes a diagnostic bronchoscopy using a flexible bronchoscope without fluoroscopic guidance and with cell washing to evaluate for active infection.
8. A patient with suspected interstitial lung disease undergoes a diagnostic bronchoscopy using a rigid bronchoscope with fluoroscopic guidance and cell washing.
9. A patient with a history of asbestos exposure undergoes a diagnostic bronchoscopy using a flexible bronchoscope without fluoroscopic guidance but with cell washing to evaluate for mesothelioma.
10. A patient with suspected bronchiectasis undergoes a diagnostic bronchoscopy using a rigid bronchoscope with fluoroscopic guidance but without cell washing.