Pediatric Coding Alert

Question: Can we bill CPT 51701 if a nurse catheterizes a patient?

Michigan Subscriber

Answer: Yes. You can report 51701 (Insertion of non-indwelling bladder catheter [e.g., straight catheterization for residual urine]) when an RN, LPN, or medical technician catheterizes a patient, if the physician supervises the procedure. This doesn't mean that the pediatrician has to be in the same room as the nurse during the catheterization procedure, but the physician must be in the office at the time of the procedure.
 
Tip: To get payment for the E/M (99201-99215, Office or other outpatient visit ...) that led to the decision for catheterization, make sure to link the signs or symptoms (such as fever, 780.6) to the E/M, and link the definitive diagnosis (such as urinary tract infection, 599.0, Urinary tract infection, site not specified) to the catheterization.

 -- Answers to You Be the Coder and Reader Questions reviewed/provided by Victoria S. Jackson, practice management consultant with JCM Inc. in California; and Richard H. Tuck, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician at PrimeCare of Southeastern Ohio.