Urology Coding Alert

Clarification:

You Can Use 52640 for Treating Bladder Neck Contraction

In an article on treating bladder neck contracture by incision in the May 2001 issue of Urology Coding Alert (Get Paid for Bladder Neck Contracture Treated With an Incision), we omitted 52640 (transurethral resection; of postoperative bladder neck contracture) as a coding option.

There is no specific code for treatment by incision rather than resection, so we recommended 52400, 52500-22, 52275, 52277 or unlisted procedure code CPT 53899. Technically, one could also use 52640, but this code specifies resection, not incision. We did not mention this choice because most urologists prefer not to perform a resection post-prostatectomy, because it produces a second, tighter bladder neck contracture that can be worse than the first.

The procedure of choice for a bladder neck stricture following simple prostatectomy is a cold incision of the stricture, as discussed in the article.
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in Revenue Cycle Insider
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more

Other Articles in this issue of

Urology Coding Alert

View All