Summary & Overview
CPT 94150: Total Vital Capacity Measurement
CPT code 94150 describes a pulmonary function test that measures total vital capacity—the maximum volume of gas a patient can exhale after full inspiration. Nationally, this measurement is a standard component of respiratory assessment used to evaluate lung volumes and distinguish between restrictive and obstructive patterns, supporting diagnosis and management of pulmonary conditions. The code is relevant across outpatient clinics, pulmonary laboratories, and hospital outpatient departments where spirometric and lung volume testing is performed. Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context, common sites of service, and expected billing considerations. The publication also summarizes payer coverage patterns and typical modifiers encountered for this service where available, and contextualizes the code within pulmonary diagnostic workflows. Data not available in the input where payer-specific rates, ICD-10 pairings, and related codes would normally be detailed.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 94150 measures total vital capacity, the volume of gas a patient can expel from the lungs after a full inspiration. This procedure quantifies lung volume to assess respiratory function and can help characterize restrictive or obstructive respiratory patterns.
Service Type: Pulmonary function testing / spirometry measurement
Typical Site of Service: Outpatient clinic, pulmonary function laboratory, or hospital outpatient department
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult referred to pulmonary function testing for evaluation of suspected restrictive or obstructive lung disease. For example, a 62-year-old patient with progressive dyspnea on exertion and a history of interstitial lung disease is scheduled for spirometry including measurement of vital capacity. The clinical workflow begins with pre-test screening for contraindications (recent thoracic surgery, active hemoptysis, uncontrolled hypertension), obtaining informed consent, and reviewing current inhaled bronchodilator use. A trained respiratory therapist or pulmonary function technologist coaches the patient through maximal inhalation to total lung capacity followed by a slow, complete exhalation to measure total vital capacity. Results are reviewed by the interpreting pulmonologist, who documents the measured vital capacity and integrates it with other spirometric parameters to support diagnosis, severity assessment, and management decisions.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | When reporting only the physician interpretation of the test separate from the technical service |
TC | Technical component |