Urology Coding Alert

Question: I work for a board-certified urologist and surgeon who performed a “laser ablation for urethral stricture.” Is there a code I can use for that? I have been working with code books and the Internet and have not found a satisfactory answer.

New Jersey Subscriber

Answer: You should report 52276 (Cystourethroscopy with direct vision internal urethrotomy) for this procedure.

You’ll use that code for urethral stricture treatment regardless of the technology your urologist uses, whether a laser, hot knife, cold knife, or a single resection groove.

Diagnosis: You should attach ICD-9 code 598.9 (Urethral stricture, unspecified) to the procedure code you report for this case.