CPT® Code 95071

Deleted

An inhalation bronchial challenge test is a diagnostic procedure primarily utilized in the evaluation and management of asthma. This test involves the use of a nebulizer, which is a device that converts liquid medication into a mist, allowing the patient to inhale specific testing compounds. Commonly used agents for this purpose include histamine, methacholine, or other antigens and gases. During the test, the patient inhales the mist for a designated duration, followed by a forceful exhalation into a spirometer. The spirometer is an instrument that measures various parameters of lung function, including the volume of air inhaled and exhaled, as well as the timing of these breaths. The results from the spirometer are graphically represented, providing a visual depiction of the patient's respiratory response. The concentration of the inhaled testing compound may be modified throughout the procedure to elicit a bronchial response, which is indicative of airway hyperreactivity. If adjustments to the concentration are made, the patient will inhale the mist again, and subsequent spirometric measurements will be taken. The physician is responsible for analyzing the data collected from the bronchial challenge test, interpreting the spirometric results, and compiling a comprehensive written report detailing the findings. It is important to report CPT® code 95071 when the bronchial challenge test is conducted using antigens or specific gases, which must be clearly identified, rather than the more commonly used histamine or methacholine.