Urology Coding Alert

Hint: Focus on the results, not the type of laser. When your urologist documents that he performed a laser prostatectomy to treat a patients benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), you wont be sure youre reporting the correct code unless you dig deeper -- and reporting the wrong code could cost your practice reimbursement dollars and set you up for payer audits. Learn what key words to look for with these expert tips on codes 52647-52649. Avoid Coding Based on Technique Alone You may think that you should base your laser prostatectomy coding on the type of laser your urologist uses during the procedure. Thats not the case, says Michael A.Ferragamo, MD, FACS, clinical assistant professor of urology at the State Universityof New York in Stony Brook, New York. Reality: You should base your code choice on the laser energy effect on the prostatic adenoma -- coagulation or vaporization -- and on the technique used [...]