You Be the Coder:
Multiple Procedures, 2 Physicians, Same Practice
Published on Fri May 15, 2009
Question: We are a group of urologists that bill under a common group NPI. One of our physicians, Dr.A, did a TURBT (CPT 52240 ), which has 0 global days, on a patient with a diagnosis of bladder cancer. Within two weeks, another physician in our practice, Dr. B,performed a TURP (CPT 52601 ), which has a 90-day global, for cancer of the bladder that had invaded the prostate. The patient then returned to see Dr. A for discussion of further treatment for his extensive cancer of the bladder. How should I code for these procedures and the office visit? Michigan Subscriber Answer: For the first procedure, code the transurethral resection of a bladder tumor (TURBT) performed by Dr. A using 52240 (Cystourethroscopy,with fulguration [including cryosurgery or laser surgery] and/or resection of; LARGE bladder tumor[s] ) as you suggested. You should assign a bladder cancer diagnosis code, such as 188.x [...]