Urology Coding Alert
Undetectable PSA Diagnosis
Question: What diagnosis should we use when a patient had prostate cancer but has been treated and now has an undetectable prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level? South Carolina Subscriber Answer: When a patient has no clinical or laboratory evidence of a previously treated malignancy, you may use one of the appropriate V codes. In this example, you should report V10.46 (Personal history of malignant neoplasm; genital organs; prostate). If cancer treatment is continuing that is, Lupron therapy continue to use the cancer diagnosis (185, Malignant neoplasm of prostate). The urologist must determine whether the cancer is "current" or "history of." Therefore, rely on the physician's documentation when selecting the diagnosis code.
Urology Coding Alert
- How to Ensure Proper Prostate Nodule Diagnosis Coding:
600.x or 239.5?
A urologist performs a prostatic nodule biopsy to determine if the nodule is benign or [...] - Prevasectomy Visits:
Drawing the Line Between Consults and New Patient Visits
Most urologists consider a prevasectomy visit a consultation (99241-99245). But most coders do not, arguing [...] - You Be the Coder:
Nephrectomy
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...] - Function Determines Code for Ureteral Stents or Catheters
Although stents and ureteral catheters have a lot in common, differences in how urologists use [...] - Reader Question:
ESWL Treatments
Question: How should we code repeat extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) treatments? Does it make [...] - Reader Question:
Undetectable PSA Diagnosis
Question: What diagnosis should we use when a patient had prostate cancer but has been [...] - Reader Question:
Modifier -51
Question: Do we need modifier -51 (Multiple procedures) with 51726 (Complex cystometrogram [e.g., calibrated electronic [...] - Reader Question:
Urethral Swab
Question: How should we code a urethral swab? Oregon Subscriber Answer: There is no specific [...] - Reader Question:
Nephrectomy With Resection
Question: A physician performed a right nephrectomy with a resection of the ileal conduit urinary [...] - Reader Question:
Undescended Testicle
Question: A primary care physician referred a patient to our urologist for an undescended testicle. [...] - Reader Question:
Abdominoperineal Resection
Question: A urologist performed surgery on a patient with a presacral abscess (ICD-9 567.2, [...]
