Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

Although ob-gyns generally deal with lysis of adhesions in only four sites, CPT® provides ten codes for the associated procedures:

• 44005 -- Enterolysis (freeing of intestinal adhesion) (separate procedure)
• 44180 -- Laparoscopy, surgical, enterolysis (freeing of intestinal adhesion) (separate procedure)
• 50715 -- Ureterolysis, with or without repositioning of ureter for retroperitoneal fibrosis
• 50722 -- Ureterolysis for ovarian vein syndrome
• 53500 -- Urethrolysis, transvaginal, secondary,open, including cystourethroscopy (e.g., postsurgical obstruction, scarring)
• 53899 -- Unlisted procedure, urinary system (for adhesions involving urethra, retropubic approach)
• 56441 -- Lysis of labial adhesions
• 58559 -- Hysteroscopy, surgical; with lysis of intrauterine adhesions (any method)
• 58660 -- Laparoscopy, surgical; with lysis of adhesions (salpingolysis, ovariolysis) (separate procedure)
• 58740 -- Lysis of adhesions (salpingolysis, ovariolysis).

Important: Generally, you won't use these codes if the ob-gyn does anything else. Rationale: Payers include them in the primary procedure.