Urology Coding Alert
Meatus Resection Coding
Question: My urologist’s operative note states that the physician resected the ureteral meatus and freed a stone. He then washed the stone into bladder and removed it. I cannot find code for the meatal part of this procedure.Should I just charge the 52310 for removal of bladder stone?
Alabama Subscriber
Answer: If your urologist performed the procedure to open the meatus (a meatotomy), then you should report 52290 (Cystourethroscopy; with ureteral meatotomy, unilateral or bilateral).
If the anatomy revealed a ureterocele with a small ureteral orifice with a stone lodged proximal, then report 52300 (Cystourethroscopy; with resection or fulguration of orthotopic ureterocele[s], unilateral or bilateral) instead.
Beware: The Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) bundles the stone removal (52310, Cystourethroscopy, with removal of foreign body, calculus, or ureteral stent from urethra or bladder [separate procedure]; simple) with both 52290 and 52300 with a modifier indicator of “0.” That means the stone removal from the bladder (52310) is not a separately billable service, even with a modifier.
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Meatus Resection Coding
Question: My urologist’s operative note states that the physician resected the ureteral meatus and freed a [...]
