Wiki Help please - I have a pt that was here

[LTibbetts]

I have a pt that was here to have greenlight laster evaporation treatment of the prostate. I have coded the 52648 but before this procedure was done, a bladder tumor was seen on radiography so a cystoscopic exam was done and it showed the superficial bladder tumor. A biopsy was obtained and then following that, greenlight laser treatment was applied and the tumor was evaporated. Then after that, the evaporation of the prostate commenced. Can I capture the tumor evaporation or not? I know that the cystoscopy is bundled with the laser surgery but I wasn't sure if this tumor ablation could also be captured. I can't help thinking that I can only code the 52648 since the same instrument was used for both procedures. Any input?

 

[cgallimore]

In my opinion, if your provider documented the biopsy and vaporization of the bladder tumor separately from the greenlight laser vaporization of the prostate, you should be able to bill it with a 59 modifier. It was in two different locations and was a separately identifiable procedure. Any thoughts from others?