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Q I read the article about "group shared appointments" in the Aug. 1, 2005, issue of Urology Times. Are there specific billing, coding, and documentation issues associated with this type of appointment?

San Antonio--A new estimate shows that chronic prostatitis, especially nonbacterial prostatitis, is common in American men, and that most diagnosis and treatment takes place in primary care.

Coding for cystourethroscopy

This year, you have a unique opportunity to improve your income by providing more services in the office.

Washington--Federal officials, after considering arguments and concerns presented by urologists and others, have decided to continue coverage for nearly 100 procedures performed in ambulatory surgical centers, including three urologic procedures, instead of removing them from the approved list as had been previously proposed.

Istanbul, Turkey--Biofeedback physical therapy and pelvic floor re-education appear to offer symptomatic improvement in men with chronic pelvic pain syndrome type III, Dutch researchers say. The techniques appear to work by improving relaxation and demonstrating proper use of pelvic floor muscles.

San Francisco--Environmental factors have emerged as potential contributors to genetic anomalies affecting male genitalia, according to studies reported at the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Urology annual meeting.

San Francisco--Environmental factors have emerged as potential contributors to genetic anomalies affecting male genitalia, according to studies reported at the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Urology annual meeting.

Washington—Officials at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have recommended that several urologic procedures be ineligible for reimbursement if they are performed in ambulatory surgical centers.

Physical therapy, perineural injections may provide relief without surgery, experts say

Will leuprolide acetate (Lupron) reimbursement fall by 20% in 2005? When will it take place? And what will the reimbursement be?

The year 2005 will portend a significant decrease in income for nearly every American urologist. Most will be impacted by Medicare's slashing the reimbursement for LHRH agonists and certain other drugs administered in the office. Solo practitioners can anticipate annual losses of income in the thousands of dollars, and larger group practices can expect over a $1 million shortfall this year.

Creating a fully automated office costs a significant amount of money and required a lot of time and hard work. For our practice, it was worth it.

Raritan, NJ-The FDA has approved a once-a-day liquid formulation of the fluoroquinone antibiotic levofloxacin (Levaquin), from Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc. Levofloxacin is indicated for the treatment of a number of infections, including complicated and uncomplicated urinary tract infections, chronic bacterial prostatitis, and acute pyelonephritis.

San Diego--Searching for ways to recoup lost revenue from outpatient prostate cancer therapy, urologists have turned to a variety of non-traditional income producers, ranging from CT scanning to processing of biopsy specimens.

Reimbursement for urologic evaluation and management services increased by one-half since 1995, while surgical reimbursement rates have decreased by about one-third, according to a study in the November Journal of Urology (2004; 172:1958-62).

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said it has made "significant" changes in Medicare's approach to paying for drugs administered in the physician's office that will allow increased coverage in 2005 for both the drugs and their administration.

You collect your money at the time of service, and you have no accounts receivable for Medicare patients.

Bladder ultrasound is noninvasive and relatively easy to perform, which may explain its increased usage in recent years. However, the American Board of Urology has expressed concern that urologists may be overusing the test. In this exclusive Urology Times interview, Pat Fulgham, MD, president of Urology Clinics of North Texas, Dallas, discusses data on the dramatic shift in bladder ultrasound usage by some urologists. Dr. Fulgham, who teaches an annual AUA course on ultrasound, also discusses clinical and reimbursement guidelines clinicians should follow. The interview was conducted by UT Editorial Consultant Robert C. Flanigan, MD, professor and chairman of the department of urology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL.

Computer labels withstandchemicals, extreme temps

Washington--Even though the new Medicare physician fee schedule rule increases physician payments by 1.5% overall for Medicare services, urologists are facing a 13% reduction, according to AUA officials.

Q A pediatric urologist I code for is concerned that we cannot bill/code for both orchiopexy and a hernia repair done during the same operating room session. Do you have any documentation on this matter? When you look up 54640 in CPT 2004, it references, "For inguinal hernia repair performed in conjunction with inguinal orchiopexy, see 49495-49525." In the Medicare Correct Coding Guidelines, I do not see any edits stating not to bill both procedures together.

CMS estimates that Medicare payments to urologists will decrease 13% in 2005.

The procedure should be of a durationand complexity that will permit the patient to recover and be discharged.

Minnetonka, MN-The FDA has cleared for marketing American Medical Systems' 700 Tactile Pump, the latest addition to the AMS 700 line of penile prostheses.

Minnetonka, MN-The FDA has cleared for marketing American Medical Systems' 700 Tactile Pump, the latest addition to the AMS 700 line of penile prostheses.

Only by qualifying for a special modifier would a procedure be 'pulled' from the global

Settlements create monetary funds, prevent companies from engaging in harmful practices

Louis Potters, MD has been appointed to the Centers for Medicare &Medicaid Services Advisory Panel on Ambulatory Payment Classification Groups,or APC Panel.

Reduced reimbursement for chemo will cause urologists to make drasticchanges, AUA says