December 2009 pages 4-5
Coding Clarification:Ureterotomy (Code 50605)
Question: My physician wants to report an ureterotomy code to
insert a stent when the ureter is already cut away from the bladder or the kidney. Is
this appropriate?
Answer: There has been a significant increase of the reporting
of code 50605, Ureterotomy for insertion of indwelling stent, all types,
suggesting confusion over proper reporting. There is only one situation for which code
50605 should be reported. If the physician cannot insert a stent into the
ureter by going up through the bladder (code 52332 or 50385)
or going down through...
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Note: The following article synopsis was NOT provided by the AMA. It was created by Find-A-Code/innoviHealth.
Article Overview
This December 2009 CPT Assistant article explains ureterotomy-related coding issues for urology and related surgical settings. It is intended for coders and clinical documentation reviewers who need to distinguish appropriate reporting scenarios from situations where the service is considered part of another procedure. The discussion focuses on general reporting clarification, related procedure context, and modifier use in a limited circumstance.
Why This Topic Matters
The article helps reduce miscoding in operative reports involving ureteral stent placement and related urologic surgery. Accurate understanding of this guidance supports cleaner claim submission and better alignment of documentation with CPT reporting expectations.
Article Sections
Coding Clarification: Ureterotomy (Code 50605)
Introduces the coding question and frames the reporting concern addressed in the article.
Inappropriate Reporting of Code 50605
Discusses circumstances in which ureterotomy-related reporting is not considered appropriate and highlights related operative context.
What You Will Learn
The general reporting context for ureterotomy-related services in CPT
How the article frames appropriate versus inappropriate documentation scenarios
The role of modifier use in a limited ureterotomy-related situation
How related urologic and abdominal surgical procedures affect coding review
Who Should Read This
Medical coders
Urology coding specialists
Compliance reviewers
Physician documentation staff
Revenue cycle professionals
Codes Discussed
CPT: 50605
CPT: 52332
CPT: 50385
CPT: 50382
CPT: 50387
CPT: 50393
Modifiers Discussed
Modifier: 52
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