Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Respiratory Therapy Services in the Physician Office Setting

Pulmonary rehabilitation services benefit patients with chronic lung disease by reducing symptoms and restoring independent function. With a multidisciplinary approach to individual patient care through education, exercise, and psychosocial interventions, health-care costs and utilization may be reduced. While pulmonary rehabilitation services have typically been provided in a facility setting, many respiratory care services can be safely provided and appropriately reimbursed in the outpatient physician office setting, with appropriate physician supervision. After reviewing the utility of pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with chronic lung disease, the supervision, documentation, coding, and reimbursement requirements for providing rehabilitative respiratory care services in the outpatient office setting are detailed.