Urology Coding Alert

Modifier 59 sometimes will rescue your reimbursement. Just when you're finally getting a handle on all the 2010 coding changes, here comes round two of the Correct Coding Initiative ( CCI ) edits. Version 16.1, which took effect April 1, will tie your hands when coding many common urology procedures, including prostate biopsies and urethral dilations. Heads up: CCI 16.1 includes 2,054 new active pairs and 1,947 modifier changes, says Frank D. Cohen, MPA, MBB, senior analyst with MIT Solutions Inc. in Clearwater, Fla. "For urology, there will be 78 edit pair additions and two edit pair deletions," says Michael A. Ferragamo, MD, FACS, clinical assistant professor of urology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.To ensure you get paid appropriately for your urologist's services this quarter, here's the rundown of the most important changes. Say Goodbye to Biopsy with Several Prostate Procedures You can no longer report [...]