Urology Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Urinary Sphincter or Sling

Test your coding knowledge.  Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the box below for the answer.
Question: How should I code for placement of an artificial urinary sphincter? Is it the same as a sling?

Maryland Subscriber

    Answer: Use newly revised code CPT 53445 (Insertion of inflatable urethral/bladder neck sphincter, including placement of pump, reservoir, and cuff) for an artificial urinary sphincter. Also see CPT 53446 (Removal of inflatable urethral/bladder neck sphincter, including pump, reservoir, and cuff) and 53449 (Repair of inflatable urethral/bladder neck sphincter, including pump, reservoir, and cuff), which are used for removal or repair, often with 53445.
 
Code 53440 (Operation for correction of male urinary incontinence, with or without introduction of prosthesis) is the male counterpart of the sling procedure 57288 (Sling operation for stress incontinence [e.g., fascia or synthetic]).
 
Code 53445 represents placing an apparatus; 53440 is for performing the sling procedure.
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in Revenue Cycle Insider
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more

Other Articles in this issue of

Urology Coding Alert

View All