Urology Coding and Reimbursement Podcast

July 10, 2026 In this episode, Scott, Mark, and Dr. Ray Painter break down CMS’s latest updates to facility reimbursement for kidney stone procedures, including the revised C9761 code, the new C8014 code, and the payment implications for hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. The discussion explains how suction-integrated ureteroscopes and suction-enabled access sheaths are now reimbursed, why...

June 26, 2026 In this episode, Scott, Mark, and Dr. Ray Painter continue their discussion on buy-and-bill drugs, using ZUSDURI® as a case study to explore the clinical, operational, and reimbursement challenges facing urology practices. The conversation covers prior authorizations, payer eligibility checks, documentation requirements, medical record reviews, RAC audits, and strategies for successf...

June 19, 2026 In this episode, Scott, Mark, and Dr. Ray Painter tackle three challenging reimbursement scenarios submitted by listeners: Medicare denials for category III code 0816T, handling patient payments when claims are denied for timely filing or missing prior authorizations, and the ongoing complexities of billing urodynamics studies in a group practice setting. The discussion explores why...

June 12, 2026 In this episode, Scott, Mark, Dr. Ray Painter, and special guest Marianne DeSciose discuss the growing wave of payer scrutiny impacting urology practices, including automatic E/M downcoding, stealth denials, medical record requests, takebacks, and RAC-style reviews. Drawing on real-world experiences from hundreds of recently identified downcoded claims, the team shares practical stra...

June 5, 2026 In this episode, Scott, Mark, and Dr. Ray Painter provide an important update on the evolving C9761 reimbursement landscape, including CMS’s decision to revise the code description and introduce a new HCPCS code for suction-enabled ureteral access sheaths. The discussion explores what these changes could mean for ASCs, HOPDs, and physicians involved in stone management. The team also...

May 22, 2026 In this episode, Scott, Mark, and Dr. Ray Painter revisit ureteral stent removal and replacement coding after listener feedback highlighted the need for additional clarification on when cystoscopic codes versus fluoroscopic exchange codes apply. The discussion then shifts to emerging RAC audits targeting prostate artery embolization (PAE) claims involving CPT codes 37242 and 37243, em...

May 15, 2026 In this special live episode from the AUA Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., Scott, Mark, and Ray Painter share highlights from the AUA Innovation Nexus program, where emerging companies, investors, and industry leaders are working to bring new urology technologies to market  . The discussion focuses on the growing importance of reimbursement strategy early in product development, th...

May 8, 2026 In this episode, Scott, Mark, and Dr. Ray Painter discuss the growing wave of innovation in urology and why reimbursement strategy must be part of the conversation from day one. Ahead of the AUA Innovation Nexus meeting in Washington, D.C., the team explores how new technologies move from concept to clinical adoption—and the reimbursement hurdles that can slow that process down. The di...

May 1, 2026 In this episode, Scott, Mark, and Dr. Ray Painter break down key differences between ureteral stent removal and replacement codes—50385, 50387, and 50688—highlighting how anatomy, access (internal vs. external), and the requirement for radiologic supervision drive proper code selection. They also tackle a growing issue with ICD-10 coding for bladder cancer, where the correct use of “hi...

April 24, 2026 In this episode, Scott, Mark, and Dr. Ray Painter break down the latest guidance on HCPCS code C9761 and the growing confusion around what qualifies for payment under this new technology APC. They walk through key interpretations from the AHA, AMA, and MACs, highlighting the critical distinction between steerable ureteral catheters, scopes, and access sheaths—and why that difference...

April 17, 2026 In this episode, Scott, Mark, and Dr. John Lin tackle a deceptively simple question: does it make sense to perform more complex procedures—like Optilume and other minimally invasive treatments—in the office setting? The discussion breaks down the three critical pillars every practice must evaluate—clinical fit, financial viability, and operational execution—while highlighting key fa...

April 10, 2026  In this episode, Scott and Mark Painter break down the rapidly evolving and increasingly uncertain landscape surrounding UTI PCR testing, following heightened scrutiny from the OIG and a surge in payer denials—particularly for CPT code 87798. They discuss confusion around MUE limits, shifting interpretations from MACs, and the growing use of N35 denials triggering documentation req...

April 3, 2026  In this episode, Scott, Mark, and Dr. Ray Painter tackle two areas where interpretation is driving real-world coding challenges: when a prostate biopsy truly qualifies as a stereotactic template-guided saturation biopsy (55706), and whether diagnostic cystoscopy meets moderate risk under E/M guidelines. The discussion breaks down what differentiates saturation biopsy from standard t...

March 27, 2026  In this episode, Scott, Mark, and Dr. John Lin dive into the challenges of navigating Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans—what happens when you’re out of network, why reimbursement can feel like a “surgical lottery,” and how to decide whether to participate at all. Prompted by a real-world scenario involving UnitedHealthcare narrowing its network, the discussion explores out-of-netwo...

March 20, 2026  In this episode, Scott, Mark, and Dr. Ray Painter break down a new UnitedHealthcare policy that could impact payment for professional components of diagnostic services—including urodynamics and other PCTC-coded procedures—and what practices must document to avoid denials. The discussion outlines the need for clearly separated diagnostic reports with findings and impressions, as pay...

March 13, 2026  In this episode, Scott, Mark, and Dr. Ray Painter tackle three emerging reimbursement challenges affecting urology practices: widespread denials for testosterone pellet (Testopel®) therapy, the growing trend of secondary payers requiring prior authorization for high-cost drugs, and whether urology questionnaires qualify as billable health risk assessments.  PRS Coding and Reimburse...

March 6, 2026  In this episode, Scott, Mark, and Dr. Ray Painter break down the complex “alphabet soup” of Medicare coverage and auditing tools—including NCDs, LCDs, LCAs, RAC audits, and the emerging WISER program—and explain how they work together to shape reimbursement policy. Prompted by a new multi-state LCD affecting Botox coverage, the discussion walks through how coverage determinations ar...

February 27, 2026  In this episode, Scott, Mark, and special guest Dr. John Lin tackle real-world evaluation and management (E/M) scenarios submitted by members of the Thriving Urology Practice Facebook Group.  Through practical examples—including BPH follow-ups, elevated PSA management, overactive bladder, recurrent UTIs, and constipation—they break down how to apply medical decision-making rules...

February 20, 2026  In this episode, Scott, Mark, and Dr. Ray Painter break down the financial realities of the new prostate biopsy CPT codes and what they mean for urology practices. Moving beyond coding mechanics, the discussion focuses on the economic differences between transrectal and transperineal approaches, MRI fusion versus ultrasound guidance, targeted lesion add-on payments, and the site...

February 13, 2026  In this special live episode recorded at the Urology Advanced Coding and Reimbursement Seminar in New Orleans on January 31st, 2026, Scott, Mark, Dr. John Lin, and Marianne DeSciose dive into one of the most contentious coding battles in urology: billing E/M services with cystoscopy on the same day. Prompted by a real-world question from the Thriving Urology Practice Facebook Gr...

February 5, 2026  In this episode, Scott, Mark, and Dr. John Lin break down the latest telehealth news—Congress has officially extended Medicare telehealth coverage through the end of 2027, offering long-term stability for practices. They also answer a listener's question about billing 52235 and 51720 together, covering when a modifier can be used and how to document instillation in the recov...

January 30, 2026  On this episode, Scott and Mark Painter sit down with Dr. Sida Niu and Tyler Hamik, co-founders of docology, an AI-driven clinical intake and workflow automation platform. Dr. Niu explains how docology was born out of his own frustration with after-hours chart review, and how the tool now distills massive referral packets into clear, focused summaries—saving hours of prep time. T...

January 23 , 2026  In this episode, Scott and Mark Painter discuss what the upcoming January 31 deadline means for telehealth coverage under Medicare, including expectations around funding extensions, potential payment delays, and bipartisan support for long-term access. They also introduce the expanded PRS Coding and Reimbursement Hub—an evolving resource offering disease-specific coding guides,...

January 16, 2026  In this episode, Scott, Mark, and Ray Painter revisit the new prostate biopsy CPT codes and provide a key update on the use of ProMaxo for MRI-guided biopsies. Mark shares recent insights confirming that CPT codes 55713 and 55714 are appropriate for procedures performed with ProMaxo, clearing up previous ambiguity around the “in-bore” language. Then, the team shifts to deductible...

January 9, 2026  In this episode, Scott, Mark, and Ray Painter tackle the growing issue of automated downcoding by commercial payers—where level 4 and 5 E/M visits are silently paid at lower levels without a formal denial. They explain how this tactic evades typical RCM detection, outline steps to flag and appeal these incorrect payments, and emphasize why accurate documentation is more important...