Dr. Dowling is president of Dowling Medical Director Services, a private health care consulting firm specializing in quality improvement, clinical informatics, and health care policy affecting specialty care. He is the former medical director of a large, 

Articles

Finasteride, oxybutynin chloride, and mirabegron also rank high in latest data from CMS.

Tamsulosin tops list of Part D drugs prescribed by urologists

Sticking to your investment strategy can help avoid emotion-driven decisions.

With the markets pushing record highs, how should you react?

Leuprolide acetate remains the most commonly used androgen suppression drug.

Part B data reveal increased usage of denosumab and mitomycin

Mark Painter is CEO of PRS Urology SC in Denver.

"Placing a catheter to irrigate obstructing blood clots (CPT 51700) is specifically included in the payment for the TURP if this complication is managed outside of an operating room," write Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, and Mark Painter.

Is it appropriate to bill 51700 for urinary retention 2 weeks after TURP?  

Medical necessity must be documented on the chart in order to bill code.

Can CPT code 51798 be billed as part of a TURP?

Karen Nash is a medical reporter and media consultant based in Monroeville, PA.

“I remember being, I guess, relieved that I matched. It’s so competitive. It’s never a sure thing. You match somewhere; I remember relief with that," says 1 urologist.

What is your clearest memory from the day you received your urology residency match?

CME reimbursement amount and 401(k)/401(b) are among elements to consider.

What to look for in an employment benefits package

Providers must carefully outline their clinical thought process.

E/M guidelines require a different approach to documentation

"Unfortunately, we have found that most if not all insurers do not pay for this code and additionally often have policies against charging patients for extra supplies, and balance billing would be a violation of their contract," write Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, and Mark Painter.

Urology coding Q&A: Is CPT code 99072 being paid?

“If one performs a bladder catheterization to obtain the post-void residual, use CPT code 51701,” write Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, and Mark Painter.

How do you bill for a post-void residual performed without ultrasound?

Recent legislation appears to have delayed implementation of the new code.

What is the status of chronic condition code G2211?

Podcasts

Kathleen Kieran, MD, MSc, MME, discusses findings from a recent paper published in Urology.

Study evaluates authorship for women in urology

CMS also expands the number of services payable under telehealth.

2021 final rule includes adoption of major E/M code changes

Evaluation/management changes should benefit providers and patients.

How urology coding changed in 2020—and what to watch for in 2021

“It’s going to be a slow process for hospitals to give the proper information to their physicians so that when we’re moving on to the new coding system, we’re not doing extra work," says one urologist.

Is your urology practice prepared for evaluation/management coding changes in 2021?

Use CPT code 52310 when a dangle is within the urethra and a grasper is used.

What are your options for billing for ureteral stent removal?

CPT code 99072 was created in response to extra medical practice expenses associated with patient care during the pandemic. 

What to know about COVID-19 CPT code 99072 for your urology practice

"We’re taking it in stride. We don’t overbook to the point where we’re overwhelmed, and we’re not exhausting ourselves," says one urologist.

Besides the expansion of telemedicine, how has COVID-19 affected your practice?

"Three products alone used to treat advanced prostate cancer were associated with about half of all payments to urologists," writes Robert A. Dowling, MD.

Open Payments and urology: What do the latest data reveal?

"We had a Russian-based attack. All of our data was encrypted. They said they’d give us back our data for $24,000 in bitcoins," says one urologist.

Practice Management