Advanced Search

Anesthesia Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Two Procedures, Two Locations

Published on Thu Mar 01, 2001

Question: A patient underwent a cystourethroscopy (52332, cystourethroscopy, with insertion of indwelling ureteral stent [e.g., Gibbons or double-J type]) and after the procedure was transferred to another facility for lithotripsy (50590, lithotripsy, extracorporeal shock wave). Which code do we use, and how do we bill time for both procedures?

Nevada Subscriber

Answer: If the patient remained asleep and the anesthesiologist was absent between the procedures, bill only one code (the one with the highest base units, in this case, the lithotripsy) with discontinuous time. If the patient was awakened, the cystourethroscopy was completed, and then the patient was returned to the operating room for lithotripsy, bill it as two separate cases with modifier -59 (distinct procedural service) attached.
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 your eNewsletter
  • 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
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Anesthesia Coding Alert

View All