Ask Dr. Z

We need clarification of the new 2019 codes 50436 and 50437. At our hospital, the urologists refer patients to the interventional radiology department to place a 5 French catheter percutaneously into the renal pelvis and down the distal ureter or a 7 French sheath into the renal pelvis with a wire into the bladder. The catheters are secured, and the patients are sent to the operating room. The urologist would then perform the nephrostolithotomy. We have been charging a nephrostomy placement in the IR department. And then the OR would charge for the dilation of the tract. Please clarify how we should charge for this with the 2019 changes.