Pulmonology Medical Billing Services

Pulmonology billing isn’t standard office visits. It’s pulmonary function testing components, bronchoscopy with multiple biopsies, and sleep study interpretations that general billers systematically bundle incorrectly.

One bundled PFT component, one missing bronchoscopy add-on, or one sleep study undercoded—and $25K-$60K vanishes monthly.

Neo MD fixes that with pulmonology-certified coders, PFT component protocols, and bronchoscopy procedure optimization workflows.

95–97%

First-Pass Claim

+26%

Avg Revenue Increase

90

Days to Results

Is Your Pulmonology Practice
Bleeding Revenue? (Most Are.)

If any of these are happening, you’re losing $300k-$720k  annually:

Visible Revenue Bleed

Immediate Impact

Priority: Critical
Audit Code: PUL-901

Pulmonary Function Tests Bundled Incorrectly

Billing 94060, when should bill separate components (94010, 94726, 94729)

Priority: Critical
Audit Code: PUL-902

Bronchoscopy with Multiple Biopsies Undercoded

Billing a single biopsy code when 3-5 sites are sampled

Priority: High
Audit Code: PUL-903

Sleep Study Interpretation Missing

95810 technical component billed, 95811 professional never captured

Priority: High
Audit Code: PUL-904

BAL and Brushings Not Billed Separately

31624, 31623 add-ons missed during bronchoscopy procedures

Priority: Critical
Audit Code: PUL-905

EBUS-TBNA Undercoded

31652, 31653 for endobronchial ultrasound biopsy not captured

Priority: Medium
Audit Code: PUL-906

Oxygen Titration Studies Never Billed

94760 oxygen qualification testing uncaptured

Invisible Losses

According to CHEST and industry data, pulmonology practices lose 24%–34% of revenue due to:

94060 vs separate billing

PFT Component Separation

28% underpayment

31623, 31624, 31625, 31626

Bronchoscopy Add-Ons

$14K-$32K/month

95811 interpretation missed

Sleep Study Professional

High-dollar loss

31652, 31653 uncaptured

EBUS-TBNA Procedures

Critical miss

Additional biopsy codes

Multiple Biopsy Sites

22% revenue loss

32554, 32555 imaging guidance

Thoracentesis Documentation

Bundling errors

95811 with CPAP

CPAP Titration Studies

Systematic miss

32098 with thoracoscopy

Pleural Biopsy Add-Ons

Untapped revenue
"You trained for years in complex pulmonary disease. But right now, coding errors cost more than two pulmonologists' combined salaries."
Cumulative Revenue Variance
$720,000+
Per Annum Potential

Why General Medical Billing Companies Fail Pulmonology Practices

Pulmonology billing demands procedural expertise that generalists simply don’t have.

PFT bundling epidemic

Always bill 94060 (complete PFT) instead of separating components

Bronchoscopy add-on blindspot

Miss BAL (31624), brushings (31623), additional biopsies

Sleep study component confusion

Bill technical without professional interpretation

EBUS-TBNA revenue loss

Don't capture 31652/31653 endobronchial ultrasound codes

Multiple biopsy undercoding

Bill one site when 3-5 transbronchial biopsies are performed

Thoracentesis imaging miss

Don't bill 32555 ultrasound guidance separately

CPAP titration gaps

Never capture split-night or CPAP titration studies

Pleural procedure errors

Bundle codes that should be billed separately

Result: 26%–38% denial rates, systematic PFT undercoding, and massive bronchoscopy revenue loss.

The Neo MD Pulmonology Advantage

Pulmonology-Certified Coding Teams

  • Pulmonary function test component expertise
  • Bronchoscopy procedure optimization (diagnostic and interventional)
  • Sleep study interpretation billing (95810, 95811)
  • EBUS-TBNA procedure coding
  • Thoracentesis and pleural procedures
  • Critical care management

→ 95–97% clean claim rate vs 62–74% industry average

Pulmonary Function Test Revenue Maximization

  • Spirometry (94010) — Pre and post bronchodilator
  • Lung volumes (94726) — Plethysmography or gas dilution
  • Diffusing capacity (94729) — DLCO measurement
  • Complete PFT (94060) — When all components are performed together
  • Bronchial provocation (95070-95071) — Methacholine challenge
  • Exercise testing (94617-94621) — Cardiopulmonary stress

→ $12K–$28K monthly recovery from PFT component optimization

Bronchoscopy Procedure Revenue Capture

  • Diagnostic bronchoscopy (31622) — Base procedure
  • Bronchial brushings (31623) — Add-on for each site
  • Bronchoalveolar lavage (31624) — BAL procedure
  • Bronchial biopsy (31625, 31629) — Each additional site
  • Transbronchial biopsy (31628, 31632, 31633) — Lung parenchyma
  • EBUS-TBNA (31652, 31653) — Endobronchial ultrasound with biopsy

→ $14K–$32K monthly from bronchoscopy optimization

Sleep Study Interpretation Excellence

  • Polysomnography technical (95810) — Facility fee
  • Professional interpretation (95811) — Physician reading
  • Split-night studies — Diagnostic + CPAP titration
  • CPAP titration (95811) — Pressure adjustment studies
  • MSLT/MWT (95805, 95822) — Multiple sleep latency, maintenance of wakefulness

→ $8K–$18K monthly from sleep study billing

Prior Authorization Management

We handle:

  • Bronchoscopy procedures (diagnostic and therapeutic)
  • EBUS-TBNA for staging and diagnosis
  • Sleep studies (polysomnography, CPAP titration)
  • Pulmonary rehabilitation programs
  • Home oxygen therapy
  • Advanced imaging (high-resolution CT, PET)
  •  

→ 4.2-day turnaround (vs 9–14 days industry standard)

Real-Time Revenue Intelligence

  • Daily procedure claim tracking
  • Weekly PFT component monitoring
  • Monthly performance by service type
  • Quarterly coding accuracy audits

→ Complete transparency

Pulmonology Services We Master

Pulmonary Function Testing

Complete spirometry with pre- and post-bronchodilator measurements, including proper component separation, lung volume testing using plethysmography or gas dilution techniques, diffusing capacity (DLCO) for gas exchange assessment, bronchial provocation testing with methacholine or other agents, cardiopulmonary exercise testing with VO2 max determination, and six-minute walk testing with oxygen desaturation monitoring.

Bronchoscopy Procedures

 Diagnostic flexible bronchoscopy with complete airway visualization, bronchial brushings for cytology from multiple sites, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) for infection or inflammatory diagnosis, transbronchial lung biopsy of parenchyma with fluoroscopic guidance, endobronchial biopsy of visible lesions, and endobronchial ultrasound with transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for lymph node staging.

Interventional Procedures

Therapeutic bronchoscopy with foreign body removal or mucus plug extraction, endobronchial stent placement for airway obstruction, balloon bronchoplasty for stenosis, tumor debulking with laser or electrocautery, argon plasma coagulation for bleeding control, and bronchial thermoplasty for severe asthma.

Sleep Medicine

Attended overnight polysomnography with comprehensive monitoring, split-night sleep studies with diagnostic portion and CPAP titration, CPAP and BiPAP titration studies for pressure optimization, multiple sleep latency testing (MSLT) for narcolepsy evaluation, maintenance of wakefulness testing (MWT), and home sleep apnea testing interpretation.

Thoracic Procedures

Thoracentesis with ultrasound guidance for pleural effusion, chest tube insertion for pneumothorax or effusion drainage, pleural biopsy via thoracoscopy or closed technique, pleurodesis for recurrent effusions, and tunneled pleural catheter placement for malignant effusions.

Critical Care & Hospital Services

Critical care time-based billing for respiratory failure, mechanical ventilation management including weaning protocols, pulmonary consultation for complex cases, invasive and non-invasive ventilation strategies, ECMO consultation and management, and hospital floor consultations for pulmonary disease.

Real Results: 5-Physician Pulmonology Group (California)

“We were bundling every PFT as 94060 and missing thousands in bronchoscopy add-ons. Neo MD separated our PFT components, captured every BAL and brushing, and implemented EBUS-TBNA billing. Revenue is up 32% without adding procedures.”

— Dr. Thomas K., Pulmonologist

Metric Before NEO MD After NEO MD (90 Days)
Denial Rate on Spinal Fusion Procedures 38% 2.8%
Annual Revenue Loss $980,000 Recovered
Multi-Level Fusion Add-On Coding Consistently Missing +$32,000 / month
Operating Microscope (69990) Never Billed +$16,000 / month
Navigation System Codes (61782 / 61783) $0 Revenue +$18,000 / month
Interbody Device Coding Uncaptured +$14,000 / month
Total Revenue Impact Missed Revenue $94,000 / month
($1.128M annually)

Free Download

Pulmonology Denial Prevention Checklist

The exact checklist our coders use for 95%+ clean claims.

PFT component decision tree (94060 vs separate billing)

Bronchoscopy procedure matrix (base + add-ons by site)

Sleep study billing guide (95810, 95811, split-night)

EBUS-TBNA coding workflow (31652, 31653)

Multiple biopsy site documentation template

Thoracentesis with imaging guidance (32554, 32555)

BAL and brushing billing rules (31624, 31623)

Medical necessity templates for repeat procedures

Used by 125+ pulmonology groups. Worth $2900. Yours free.

Performance: Neo MD vs Industry Standard

Performance Metric Industry Avg Neo MD
Clean Claim Rate 62–74% 95–97%
Denial Rate 26–38% 3–6%
PFT Component Accuracy 42–58% 97%+
Bronchoscopy Add-On Capture 38–56% 96%+
Sleep Study Interpretation 52–68% 95%+
EBUS-TBNA Revenue Capture 28–48% 94%+

Our Process: Revenue Acceleration in 90 Days

Step 1 (Week 1)
Free 90-Day Revenue Diagnostic

We begin with a comprehensive analysis of your last 90 days of pulmonology procedures, examining every PFT for proper component separation versus bundled billing, reviewing bronchoscopy procedures for missing add-on codes, including BAL, brushings, and multiple biopsies, evaluating sleep study billing for professional interpretation capture, and assessing EBUS-TBNA procedures for complete code utilization. Our team identifies denial patterns by procedure type and payer, reviews documentation standards for multiple biopsy sites, and examines thoracentesis procedures for ultrasound guidance billing. You receive a detailed report showing exactly where revenue is leaking with specific procedure examples and the dollar amount being lost to each type of bundling error or missed add-on code.

Step 2 (Weeks 2-3)
Seamless Transition

Our implementation team coordinates a smooth transition with zero disruption to your clinical schedule or procedure volume. We integrate with your EMR and procedure documentation system whether you're using Epic, Cerner, Athenahealth, or any other platform, verify all payer enrollments and hospital privileges, set up PFT component tracking protocols with automatic separation triggers, establish bronchoscopy add-on capture workflows for BAL, brushings, and biopsies, and provide comprehensive training to your pulmonologists, respiratory therapists, and procedure coordinators on documentation requirements for multiple biopsies, EBUS-TBNA procedures, and sleep study interpretation. Most practices have their first clean claims submitted within 10-12 business days.

Step 3 (Days 30-90)
Revenue Acceleration

This is where you see immediate financial impact. Our certified pulmonology coders begin implementing proper PFT component separation when spirometry, lung volumes, and diffusing capacity are performed on different days or as separate services, capturing bronchoscopy add-on codes for every BAL, brushing, and additional biopsy site that was previously bundled, ensuring sleep study professional interpretation (95811) is billed for every polysomnography technical component, and optimizing EBUS-TBNA billing with complete lymph node station documentation. We systematically rework and resubmit old denied claims with corrected procedure coding and enhanced documentation. Within the first 30 days, most practices see noticeable cash flow improvement from bronchoscopy add-on capture alone, and by day 90, our clients average a 26-31% revenue increase without adding procedure slots or extending clinic hours.

Step 4 (Ongoing)
Continuous Optimization

Revenue optimization doesn't stop at 90 days. We provide bi-weekly updates on pulmonology coding changes and payer policy modifications as CMS updates PFT and bronchoscopy policies, conduct monthly procedure coding reviews with your pulmonologists to ensure continued documentation accuracy for multiple biopsies and EBUS procedures, perform quarterly compliance audits on PFT component separation and sleep study billing, and deliver annual CPT code update training specific to pulmonary medicine and sleep services. As your practice expands services like interventional pulmonology procedures, bronchial thermoplasty, or advanced diagnostic techniques, we proactively research coverage policies and implement billing protocols to ensure maximum reimbursement from day one.

Critical Compliance Issues We Handle

Pulmonology practices face unique compliance challenges. We protect you:

PFT component documentation

(separate dates or medical necessity for same-day separation)

Bronchoscopy add-on justification

(each biopsy site, BAL location documented)

Sleep study professional interpretation

(complete study reading, report generation)

EBUS-TBNA medical necessity

(lymph node stations sampled, clinical indication)

Multiple biopsy site documentation

(anatomic location for each specimen)

Thoracentesis imaging guidance

(ultrasound use documented in real-time)

Critical care time tracking

(30-minute threshold, concurrent procedures excluded)

Modifier requirements

(59 for distinct procedures, 26 for professional component)

We keep you compliant, paid, and audit-ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

 10–14 days, zero procedure schedule disruption.

Yes. We manage billing for both settings with proper place of service coding.

 We optimize complete sleep study billing, including technical and professional components.

 6–9% of collections, but clients average a 26–31% revenue increase.

 Yes. We specialize in complex bronchoscopy, including EBUS, stents, and therapeutic procedures.

We capture all critical care time-based billing and hospital consultations.

Stop Losing $25K–$60K Every Month

Every month you delay is another month of compounded clinical leakage.

PFT components bundled incorrectly

Bronchoscopy add-ons never captured

Sleep study interpretation was missed

EBUS-TBNA procedures undercoded

Multiple biopsies billed as a single

Thoracentesis guidance uncaptured

Partner with Neo MD

Operational Performance Protocol

Clean Claims Rate
95–97%
Denials below 4%
60 Days
Revenue up 26–31%
90 Days
PFT component accuracy
97%+
Bronchoscopy add-ons
96%+
EBUS-TBNA capture
94%+

Sleep interpretation

95%+

Two Ways to Get Started

Option 1

Free Revenue Analysis

No obligation. No sales pitch. Just data.

We’ll show you:

Option 2

Talk to a Specialist

15-minute consultation. Zero pressure.

We’ll discuss:

Or call us directly:

Monday-Friday, 8 am-5 pm EST

The Cost of Waiting

If you’re a pulmonology practice collecting $3.2M annually and losing 28% to billing inefficiencies:

$896,000

Per year in lost revenue

$4.48 million

Over 5 years

That’s hiring another pulmonologist, opening a dedicated bronchoscopy suite, investing in advanced diagnostic equipment like EBUS or navigational bronchoscopy, or launching comprehensive sleep medicine services.

Every month you wait costs you $74,700 you'll never recover.

The question isn’t “Should I switch?”
The question is: “How much more am I willing to lose?”

Neo MD Inc. | Pulmonology Medical Billing Specialists




    Trusted by 125+ pulmonology practices across all 50 states