Urology Coding Alert
Nephrectomy
Question: How should we code for a patient who had an extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and needed a nephrectomy two weeks later? Texas Subscriber Answer: You should report the ESWL with CPT 50590 (Lithotripsy, extracorporeal shock wave). If the nephrectomy constitutes treatment of a complication such as uncontrolled bleeding (599.89, Other specified disorders of urinary tract) or a renal abscess (590.2, Infections of kidney; renal and perinephric abscess) secondary to the shock wave, you should code 50220 (Nephrectomy, including partial ureterectomy, any open approach including rib resection) with modifier -78 (Return to the operating room for a related procedure during the postoperative period) appended. If the nephrectomy is treatment for an unrelated problem, report 50220-79 (Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician during the postoperative period).
Urology Coding Alert
- How to Ensure Proper Prostate Nodule Diagnosis Coding:
600.x or 239.5?
A urologist performs a prostatic nodule biopsy to determine if the nodule is benign or [...] - Prevasectomy Visits:
Drawing the Line Between Consults and New Patient Visits
Most urologists consider a prevasectomy visit a consultation (99241-99245). But most coders do not, arguing [...] - You Be the Coder:
Nephrectomy
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...] - Function Determines Code for Ureteral Stents or Catheters
Although stents and ureteral catheters have a lot in common, differences in how urologists use [...] - Reader Question:
ESWL Treatments
Question: How should we code repeat extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) treatments? Does it make [...] - Reader Question:
Undetectable PSA Diagnosis
Question: What diagnosis should we use when a patient had prostate cancer but has been [...] - Reader Question:
Modifier -51
Question: Do we need modifier -51 (Multiple procedures) with 51726 (Complex cystometrogram [e.g., calibrated electronic [...] - Reader Question:
Urethral Swab
Question: How should we code a urethral swab? Oregon Subscriber Answer: There is no specific [...] - Reader Question:
Nephrectomy With Resection
Question: A physician performed a right nephrectomy with a resection of the ileal conduit urinary [...] - Reader Question:
Undescended Testicle
Question: A primary care physician referred a patient to our urologist for an undescended testicle. [...] - Reader Question:
Abdominoperineal Resection
Question: A urologist performed surgery on a patient with a presacral abscess (ICD-9 567.2, [...]
