Urology Coding Alert

Question: If a patient has a kidney stone and the urologist gives them a urine strainer, can the patient be billed for that?>

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Answer: Unless your office is an accredited durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) supplier, you cannot bill for supplies. However, “if the office is an accredited supplier, there is no specific HCPCS code for the urine strainer,” said Stephanie Stinchcomb Storck, CPC, CPMA, CUC, CCS-P, ACS-UR, longtime urology coder and consultant in Glen Burnie, Maryland. The appropriate HCPCS code would be A9270 (Non-covered item or service). Because this code is not covered, it would then become the patient’s responsibility in most cases; usually the practice will provide this to the patient without charging, however.