Urology medical billing becomes challenging with consistent changes in ICD codes and guidelines. Outsourcing your medical billing to a company with expertise in urology medical billing is the best option to submit error free claims with increased reimbursement. Recently several new ICD-10 coding updates are introduced in Urology medical billing. Urologists need to aware of the Urology ICD-10 Codes Update for urethral stricture, urinalysis findings, and testicular diagnostic imaging.
Code category N35 has new codes in 2019 for male and urethral female stricture that further specify anatomy:
- N35.016 Post-traumatic urethral stricture, male, overlapping sites
- N35.116 Post infective urethral stricture, not elsewhere classified, male, overlapping sites
- N35.811 Other urethral stricture, male, meatal
- N35.812 Other urethral bulbous stricture, male
- N35.813 Other membranous urethral stricture, male
- N35.814 Other anterior urethral stricture, male, anterior
- N35.816 Other urethral stricture, male, overlapping sites
- N35.819 Other urethral stricture, male, unspecified site
- N35.82 Other urethral stricture, female
- N35.911 Unspecified urethral stricture, male, meatal
- N35.912 Unspecified bulbous urethral stricture, male
- N35.913 Unspecified membranous urethral stricture, male
- N35.914 Unspecified anterior urethral stricture, male
- N35.916 Unspecified urethral stricture, male, overlapping sites
- N35.919 Unspecified urethral stricture, male, unspecified site
- N35.92 Unspecified urethral stricture, female
- N99.116 Post procedural urethral stricture, male, overlapping sites
In Chapter 18 (Symptoms, Signs, and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory), specific codes for abnormal urine findings have been added to code subsection R82.99:
- R82.991 Hypocitraturia
- R82.992 Hyperoxaluria
- R82.993 Hyperuricosuria
- R82.994 Hypercalciuria
- R82.998 Other abnormal findings in urine
To identify other abnormal findings on diagnostic imaging, code subcategory R93.8 has been expanded as follows:
- R93.811 Abnormal radiologic findings on diagnostic imaging right testicle
- R93.812 Abnormal radiologic findings on diagnostic imaging of left testicle
- R93.813 Abnormal radiologic findings on diagnostic imaging of testicles, bilateral
- R93.819 Abnormal radiologic findings on diagnostic imaging of unspecified testicle
- R93.89 Abnormal findings on diagnostic imaging of other specified body structures
Common ICD-10 Coding Errors
As per recent Urology Times report, there are three common mistakes that can lead to audits or retroactive review of claims and take backs:
- Using C67.9 bladder cancer site unspecified: This code can be used if the documentation does not convey the info of the location from which a bladder tumor was removed. The specific site of bladder cancer is usually known. The procedure note should inform the site to ensure the highest level of coding representing the patient’s condition.
- Using symptom codes: Misused symptom codes are another common error.
- The Urology Times report explains that symptom codes should be included in claims using N40. Even if the symptom is due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
- Assigning cancer diagnosis when the cancer has been surgically removed, with no symptoms present. Diagnosis with a personal history of malignant neoplasm is the appropriate option for patients who had treatment for prostate, testicular, kidney, or bladder cancer and had the cancer removed, and have no elevated PSA or remaining cancerous tissue.
Urology practices become busier than ever with increased demands of patients. Outsourcing Urology medical billing to a leading medical billing company will help providers to focus on their patients while ensuring error free claim submissions.
About Medisys
We are a group of medical billing experts who offer comprehensive billing and coding services to doctors, physicians & hospitals. We provide A to Z billing and coding solutions. Medisys Data Solutions RCM solutions ensures that the providers recover every $ they are entitled to. Our vision for the providers is “You Cure. We $ecure”
