Urology Coding Alert

Test your ICD-9, CPT®, and HCPCS 2012 knowledge before the denials start rolling in.

Annual coding changes put every coder on edge this time of year. Ensure that you have a handle on this year's coding situation by taking this three-question quiz and then checking your answers against the experts' on page 20.

Hint: You can find all the answers in one of these three past Urology Coding Alert articles:

• "Get Specific With New ICD-9 Cystostomy and Mesh Complication Codes in October" from the Vol. 13, No. 8 issue
• "Easier Initial Observation Coding Will Come Your Way in January" from the Vol. 13, No. 12 issue
• "Retire 86294 For NMP-22 Bladder Test Checks" from the Vol. 14, No. 1 issue

Question 1: When your urologist documents that a patient's vaginal mesh/sling that has eroded into the bladder, what diagnosis code should you report?

Question 2: What code should you report when your physician assistant (PA) documents that he performed initial observation services and spent a total of one hour with the patient, and counseling and coordination of care took 47 minutes?

Question 3: Your urologist performs a nuclear matrix protein-22 (NMP-22), or Bladder Test Check, in the office to check for abnormal proteins in the urine of a patient with history of bladder cancer. How should you report the NMP-22 test?