title: The business of interventional pulmonology.
abstract: Interventional pulmonologists are regularly asked to perform more complicated and advanced procedures, but reimbursement for the time, effort and skill involved in these procedures has not kept up with other procedural specialties. Further changes in funding and reimbursement are likely under the Affordable Care Act. Understanding and effectively using the current system of funding for interventional pulmonology practices are imperative as we adapt to changing medical needs, legislative mandates, and reimbursement policy. This article reviews the current landscape of insurance and reimbursement in health care and anticipates some changes that might be expected from implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Erb
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.forename: Gaëtane C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Michaud
mesh_terms: D059019:Clinical Coding; D039702:Current Procedural Terminology; D006801:Humans; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; D011216:Practice Management, Medical; D015272:Pulmonary Medicine / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms; D014481:United States
keywords: Billing; Coding; Insurance; Interventional pulmonology; Practice building; Reimbursement