Urology Coding Alert

Question: The Correct Coding Initiative ( CCI Edits ) tells me if I bill J2001 with either code 51700 or 51720 that I need to attach a modifier to J2001. I am also being told by others that I cannot bill the J code at all with these procedure codes. How should I report this service?

New Jersey Subscriber

Answer: If your urologist is performing the instillation or irrigation under local urethral anesthesia, you should not separately report J2001 (Injection, lidocaine HCl for intravenous infusion, 10 mg) as this code identifies a lidocaine intravenous injection not a local topical intra-urethral injection.

Watch out: J2001 is only for intravenous infusion of lidocaine. There are no available topical

lidocaine CPT or HCPCS codes. You should never use J2001 for the administration of topical anesthesia.

Also remember local or topical anesthesia is bundled and included in all CPT's surgical packages and is not a billable service for Medicare or most private carriers. Therefore, you should only charge 51720 (Bladder instillation of anticarcinogenic agent [including retention time]) or 51700 (Bladder irrigation, simple, lavage and/or instillation) and not the lidocaine code in either case.