Urology Coding Alert

Check anesthesia, approach to clue into 51040 vs. 51102. When your urologist states that he placed a suprapubic (SP) tube, you can decide between CPT 51040 (Cystostomy, cystotomy with drainage) and CPT 51102 (Aspiration of bladder; with insertion of suprapubic catheter) if you follow three simple guidelines. 1. Search the Documentation for Procedure Details When determining the proper code to use for an SP tube placement procedure, you'll need to go to your urologist's documentation. Choosing between 51102 and 51040, "depends on how the tube is inserted," says Martha Guyer, CPC, patient account representative on the central charge review team at Cornerstone Healthcare in High Point, N.C. Alice Kater, CPC, PCS, coder for Urology Associates of South Bend, Ind. agrees based on an American Urological Association (AUA) article. She says that even though 51040 and 51102 both describe SP tube insertions, they specify different placement methods, according to the article. [...]