How Understanding of Respiratory System Helps in Coding and Billing

Importance of Respiratory System Knowledge on Coding and Billing

The respiratory system includes all organs that help a person to breathe. The system
has two main parts. The parts are upper and lower tracts (Jung & Fraser, 2020). In order to
accurately report the diseases and conditions of patients, coders and billers need to
understand the respiratory system’s parts.

Example of Respiratory Conditions and their Coding

A good example of the importance of understanding the upper and lower respiratory
systems in coding and billing is reporting of acute sinusitis. In order to accurately report the
code for the condition, the coder must know whether the affected sinusitis is on the upper or
lower respiratory tract. Thus, the coder will report 461.0 if it is acute maxillary sinusitis and
461.3 if it is acute sphenoidal sinusitis (Lovaasen, 2017). Without knowledge of the
respiratory system, the coder risks reporting inaccurate condition.

Common Conditions of the Respiratory System

There are numerous diseases and conditions that affect the respiratory system. The
diseases and conditions include asthma, pneumonia, emphysema, tuberculosis, bronchitis,
obstructive sleep apnea, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Jung & Fraser, 2020).
Left untreated, some of these diseases can result in death of the patient.

Common Tests for Respiratory System Diseases

To determine the specific condition or disease that a patient has, there are a number of
tests that are usually done on the patient. The tests include CT scan for getting detailed

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images of the blood vessels, muscles, and bones on the chest. Another test is chest
fluoroscopy which is an x-ray test done to determine how well a person’s lungs function.
Bronchoscopy is another common test that is usually done to examine the patient’s airway
and determine whether their larynx, throat, lower airways, or trachea have any issues
(Lovaasen, 2017).

Health Providers Who Treat Respiratory Conditions

Pulmonologists are the main providers who treat respiratory conditions and diseases.
They are experts in various infections that affect the respiratory system. Due to their focus on
the respiratory system’s health, pulmonologists are able to treat all conditions that affect the
respiratory system.

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References

Jung, S., & Fraser, R. (2020). Development and Functional Anatomy of the Respiratory
System. Cotes’ Lung Function, 33-43.
Lovaasen, K. R. (2017). ICD-10-CM/PCS Coding: Theory and Practice, 2018 Edition E-
Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.