Urology Coding Alert

Question: One of my providers and I are having a debate. Can he bill CPT 11981 -11983 and 12001 at the same time?

Oregon Subscriber

Answer: A clinical scenario for which you code using both non-biodegradable drug delivery implant procedure codes 11981-11983 and 12001 (Simple repair of superficial wounds of scalp, neck, axillae, external genitalia, trunk and/or extremities [including hands and feet]; 2.5 cm or less) would indeed be rare, unless there is a laceration unrelated to the implant that needs repair. In that case you could bill both codes.

Typically, however, you should consider the closure of the incision for the implant an integral part of the procedure itself. Therefore, although these codes are not bundled, you should consider the 12001 a non-billable service that is included in the delivery implant procedure.