Urology Coding Alert

Question: A new physician in our practice wants to perform iontophoresis for Peyronie’s disease. He wants to administer a combination of verapamil, dexamethasone, and lidocaine via electrical current. Code 97033 was recommended, but after researching, I’m not sure this is appropriate coding for urology. I’ve found other recommendations stating to report 54200. What’s your advice?

Utah Subscriber

Answer: At first glance, 54200 (Injection procedure for Peyronie disease) seems like the best code choice since the descriptor mentions the condition by name – but don’t let that lead you down the wrong path. The descriptor also specifies that 52400 represents an injection procedure. The modality your physician wants to use, iontophoresis, is a method for introducing medication through intact skin by applying an electric current into the body tissue. Because of this, the correct code for iontophoresis is 97033 (Application of a modality to 1 or more areas; iontophoresis, each 15 minutes).

Condition info: In Peyronie disease, a patient may experience severe penile curves and pain during erection, or a lump within the shaft of the penis including shortening of the penis due to fibrous tissue growth inside the penis. The provider injects medication such as verapamil, interferon, or collagenase into the external area of the penis directly into the fibrous tissue that causes the condition. The medication lessens the deformity and the patient’s pain.