Urology Coding Alert

Question: While removing a guide wire, a physician inadvertently pushed the stent up the ureter. He then had to do a ureteroscopy and use grasping forceps to pull the stent back down. How should we bill for the ureteroscopy and repositioning of the stent? New Jersey Subscriber Answer: The procedure constitutes the placement of a ureteral stent. The intraop-erative problem was "inadvertent," and its correction at the time does not warrant an additional reimbursement. You should report 52332 (Cystourethroscopy, with insertion of indwelling ureteral stent [e.g., Gibbons or double-J type]) for the procedure.