Urology Coding Alert

Question: The gastroenterologist performed a takedown of a patient’s colostomy. She attempted to create space rectally when she felt something odd via the Foley catheter anteriorly. She asked the urologist to examine the patient under anesthesia. Does CPT^® include a code for intraoperative examination under anesthesia for male patients?

Ohio Subscriber

Answer: There are no specific intraoperative consult codes available, and remember consultation codes have been eliminated by most payers including Medicare. Therefore, for inpatient “consultations” one should choose a code from 99221 to 99223, the initial hospital visit codes. For intraoperative consultations where a complete examination cannot be performed in a patient under anesthesia, code from 99231 to 99232, the subsequent hospital visit codes.