Urology Coding Alert

Include proper primary and secondary diagnosis codes to ensure payment. If your urologist performs a new treatment for asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic metastatic castrate resistant (hormone refractory) carcinoma of the prostate using the drug Provenge or Sipuleucel-T, take note of a new HCPCS Codes for 2012. Get to Know the Procedure Medicare allows a patient one treatment with Provenge in their lifetime, which includes three separate infusions within a two week period, says Michael A. Ferragamo, MD, FACS, clinical assistant professor of urology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. "Blood is taken from the patient and exposed to prostate cancer cells, sensitizing the patient's white blood cells to attack the cancer cells when reinfused into the patient," Ferragamo explains. "This also stimulates a recruitment of additional white blood cells to destroy the tumor. Provenge is the first in a new class of therapy that is designed [...]