Urology Coding Alert
Double Check CCI Edits for Services Included in 50947
Question: The urologist completed several procedures during the same operative session:
I’m seeing some coding edits that keep me from reporting everything, but this seems like a lot of work to not code for all the procedures. Am I looking at things correctly?
Oklahoma Subscriber
Answer: The urologist did do many procedures during this encounter, but all the work is included in 50947 (Laparoscopy, surgical; ureteroneocystostomy with cystoscopy and ureteral stent placement). During the procedure, the surgeon reimplants the ureter into the bladder using a laparoscopic approach. The overall procedure includes the use of a cystoscope to examine the bladder and place an indwelling JJ stent and a laparoscope for the ureteral implantation.
Plus: Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) edits prevent you from reporting each procedure separately. For example, 52000 (Cystourethroscopy [separate procedure]) and 52332 (Cystourethroscopy, with insertion of indwelling ureteral stent [e.g., Gibbons or double-J type]) are both considered part of the service for 50947.
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