Urology Coding Alert

Here's what you should look for in your physician's documentation. When ICD-9 Codes becomes ICD-10 Codes in 2013, you will not always have a simple one-to-one relationship between old codes and the new ones. Often, you'll have more options that may require tweaking the way your physician documents a service and a coder reports it. Check out this common ureteral stone diagnosis, and discover what you'll report after October 1, 2013. When your urologist treats a ureteral stone, you now apply ICD-9 code 592.1 (Calculus of ureter) to a specific procedure code (such as 52353, Cystourethroscopy, with ureteroscopy and/or pyeloscopy; with lithotripsy [ureteral catheterization is included]). ICD-10 difference: Instead of relying on one code, 592.1 will expand into four options: N13.2 -- Hydronephrosis with renal and ureteral calculus obstruction N13.6 -- Pyonephrosis, conditions in N13.0-N13.5 with infection N20.1 -- Calculus of ureter N20.2 -- Calculus of kidney with calculus of ureter. Physician documentation: The [...]