Ask Dr. Z

On july 9, 2010, someone asked what to charge for placement of wires in the ureter prior to nephrolithiasis. In your answer you stated that we should use CPT 50395--"introduction of guide into renal pelvis and/or ureter with dilatation to establish nephrostomy tract, percutaneous." We are doing this same procedure here, but we are not dilating the tract at all. The urologist is doing that in the OR. We simply place an angio catheter and wires into the distal ureter. This may be done one or days before the actual tract dilatation and nephrolithiasis. Can you tell us why we would be allowed to use CPT 50395? Thanks.