Summary & Overview
CPT 50220: Nephrectomy (Kidney Removal)
CPT code 50220 represents a nephrectomy, the surgical removal of a kidney or part of a kidney, and is used to bill for major urologic surgical procedures. Nephrectomy services have broad clinical importance across oncology, trauma, and end-stage renal disease management, and they account for substantial resource use in inpatient surgical care. Nationally, consistent coding for nephrectomy is important for accurate surgical quality measurement, payment, and care coordination.
Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication summarizes how CPT code 50220 is classified, typical settings where the procedure is performed, and the clinical context that commonly justifies the service. Readers will find benchmarks on utilization and payer coverage patterns where available, summaries of relevant policy or coding guidance updates, and concise clinical context to aid coding and billing teams.
This overview is aimed at billing professionals, surgical services administrators, and policy analysts who need a clear national snapshot of the code’s clinical meaning, typical sites of service, and payer landscape. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 50220 describes a nephrectomy, a surgical procedure for removal of a kidney or part of a kidney. This procedure is a major surgical service that may involve partial or complete removal of renal tissue depending on clinical indications.
Service type: Surgical – Urology/General Surgery
Typical site of service: Hospital inpatient or outpatient surgical center, depending on clinical complexity and perioperative needs.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 62-year-old male with a 3.5 cm enhancing mass in the right renal pole identified on contrast CT is scheduled for a partial nephrectomy to remove the tumor while preserving renal function. The patient has hypertension and stage 2 chronic kidney disease; preoperative evaluation includes labs, crossmatch, and anesthetic assessment. The procedure is performed in an operating room under general anesthesia by a urologist with an assistant; intraoperative steps include renal artery control, tumor excision with negative margins, renorrhaphy, and hemostasis. Typical perioperative workflow includes preoperative imaging review, informed consent, time-out, operative report documentation specifying laterality and technique (open, laparoscopic, or robotic-assisted), specimen submission to pathology, postoperative monitoring in PACU with pain control and urine output assessment, and discharge planning with follow-up for pathology results and renal function monitoring.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
50 | Bilateral procedure | When both kidneys or bilateral renal procedures are performed during the same operative session |
52 | Reduced services |