Urology Coding Alert

Make sure your urologist gets specific in his documentation.

When your urologist performs an orchiopexy procedure, you’ll most likely use one of the following diagnosis codes along with the procedure code:

• 752.51 -- Undescended testis (includes ectopic testicle)
• 752.52 -- Retractile testis.

When ICD-10 takes effect in 2014, you will still have just one code for retractile testis: Q55.22 (Retractile testis). You will have multiple codes to replace 752.51, however. You will need to scour your urologist’s documentation to get the details to choose from the following new codes:

• Q53.00 -- Ectopic testis, unspecified
• Q53.01 -- Ectopic testis, unilateral
• Q53.02 -- Ectopic testes, bilateral
• Q53.10 -- Unspecified undescended testicle, unilateral
• Q53.11 -- Abdominal testis, unilateral
• Q53.12 -- Ectopic perineal testis, unilateral
• Q53.20 -- Undescended testicle, unspecified, bilateral
• Q53.21 -- Abdominal testis, bilateral
• Q53.22 -- Ectopic perineal testis, bilateral
• Q53.9 -- Undescended testicle, unspecified.

Physician documentation: Your urologist should already be documenting the specifics of the type of testicular problem the patient has, and for the most accurate ICD-10 coding you should encourage your urologist to continue being specific on every operative report.

Superbill updates: Keep in mind that because 752.51 won’t have a one-to-one code crosswalk, you probably will need to make additional room on your superbill for these ICD-10 diagnostic codes.

Don’t forget: CMS has announced a proposed implementation date change from Oct. 1, 2013 to Oct. 1, 2014 for the new diagnosis code set.