Ask Dr. Z

Would you please provide some clarity as to when it is appropriate to use code 55706? CPT Assistant, November 2010, Volume 20, Issue 11, page 5 states that it must be performed under general anesthesia, 35-60 samples are obtained, and a previous negative standard prostate biopsy was performed. I have a provider insisting that these guidelines are outdated and per clinical standards she should be able to use this code when moderate sedation is used, 20 cores are obtained, and no previous standard prostate biopsy needs to be performed. She states it is the technique, not the type of anesthesia or number of cores that defines this. All the other guidelines are met, including the use of a template and a transperineal approach.