ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert
Check Dwelling Status, Choose Correct Cath Code
Question: A female patient reports to the ED complaining of burning during urination and pelvic pain. The nurse is unable to place a catheter, and to rule out a urinary tract infection (UTI), the physician performs a bladder catheterization. Notes indicate that the physician used a quick catheter kit to obtain the sample using standard sterile technique. No UTI was present. What is the code for this procedure?
Michigan Subscriber
Answer: The quick catheter indicates that the physician performed a straight catheterization. On the claim, report the following:
- 51701 (Insertion of non-indwelling bladder catheter [e.g., straight catheterization for residual urine]) for the catheterization
- 788.1 (Dysuria) and 625.9 (Unspecified symptom associated with female genital organs) appended to 51701 to represent the patient's symptoms.
ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert
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