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Urology Coding Alert

Reader Question:

CCI Won't Allow 52500 + 52648

Published on Tue Dec 18, 2012

Question: My doctor frequently bills 52648 (vaporization of prostate) with 52500 (transurethral resection of bladder neck).  Can I unbundle these in order to get paid for the 52500? Oregon Subscriber Answer: No. Code 52500 (Transurethral resection of bladder neck [separate procedure]) is included in the procedure description of code 52648 (Laser vaporization of prostate, including control of postoperative bleeding, complete [vasectomy, meatotomy, cystourethroscopy, urethral calibration and/or dilation, internal urethrotomy and transurethral resection of prostate are included if performed]). Therefore, you should not bill 52500 in addition to 52648.   Reinforcement: Code 52500 is also bundled into 52648 per the Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) edits, and this bundling cannot be undone with any modifier.
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