Urology Coding Alert

Question: What is the proper code for billing an incision (not resection) of bladder neck for a bladder neck contraction.

Nevada Subscriber

Answer: There are several options for this problematic coding issue. Two suggestions would be to report 52500 (transurethral resection of bladder neck [separate procedure]), with modifier -52 (reduced services) Or, code 53899 (unlisted procedure, urinary system) may be used. If the miscellaneous code is reported, an operative report must be submitted with the claim. Another method, which probably will work better than the unlisted code, is 52601 (transurethral electrosurgical resection of prostate, including control of postoperative bleeding, complete [vasectomy, meatotomy, cystourethroscopy, urethral calibration and/or dilation, and internal urethrotomy are included]) and append the modifier -52.