Outpatient Facility Coding Alert
Submit 'Unlisted' for Laser Destruction of Blood Clot
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Question: Our doctor wants to use 52317 for laser of a blood clot and evacuation. Would this be appropriate?
Kentucky Subscriber
Answer: No, 52317 (Litholapaxy: crushing or fragmentation of calculus by any means in bladder and removal of fragments; simple or small [less than 2.5 cm]) would not be correct.
Here’s why: Code 52317 involves crushing and fragmentation of stones in the bladder, not the blood clot.
There is no direct code for evacuation of a blood clot using a laser technique, so you’ll need to report the service as an unlisted procedure with 53899 (Unlisted procedure, urinary system). However, if the provider inserts a suction and irrigation probe for evacuation, report code 52001 (Cystourethroscopy with irrigation and evacuation of multiple obstructing clots) for the encounter.
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