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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesEndoscopy Procedures on the KidneyCPT cpt-50555-renal-endoscopy-pyeloscopic-biopsy
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    CPT 50555: Nephroscopy with Biopsy via Established Access

    Medicare pays $440 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 50555 describes a nephroscopy procedure in which the provider inserts an endoscope through a previously established opening between the kidney collecting system or renal pelvis and the exterior, inspects the kidney, renal pelvis, and ureter, and obtains a biopsy; service type: endoscopic renal/ureteral diagnostic procedure with biopsy; typical site of service: ambulatory surgery center or hospital operating room via an existing percutaneous or nephrostomy tract.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Vafseo (vadadustat) for anemia in CKD on dialysis, Metabolic Disorders - Cysteamine (Oral) Products for Individual and Family Plans, Kerendia (finerenone) — Coverage Criteria.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is a 58-year-old with hematuria and a history of recurrent nephrolithiasis who presents after imaging (CT urogram or renal ultrasound) identifies a suspicious lesion or persistent filling defect in the renal pelvis or collecting system. The urologist schedules a percutaneous or transpelvic endoscopic evaluation through a previously established nephrostomy or pyelostomy tract. Under general or monitored anesthesia care in an ambulatory surgery center or hospital operating room, the provider inserts a flexible or rigid endoscope through the existing external opening into the renal collecting system, inspects the kidney, renal pelvis, and ureteral orifices, and obtains cold or forceps biopsy specimens for histopathology. The workflow includes preoperative consent and imaging review, anesthesia induction, sterile preparation of the existing tract, endoscopic visualization and targeted biopsy, specimen handling and labeling, hemostasis and tract management (temporary nephrostomy catheter exchange or removal), immediate postoperative recovery, and pathology follow-up with the ordering clinician for final diagnosis and any subsequent definitive therapy planning.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    50590Nephrostomy, percutaneous, including injection for radiologic evaluation, when performed; initial renal pelvis or calyxOften performed before or in conjunction with establishing percutaneous access used later for endoscopic biopsy when a new tract is required
    52000Cystourethroscopy, with or without irrigation and/or collection of specimen(s) by brushing or washingMay be performed preoperatively to evaluate lower urinary tract or to access ureteral orifices prior to upper tract instrumentation
    52332Cystourethroscopy, with ureteroscopy, with removal of calculus from ureter and/or renal pelvis, with or without dilationPerformed when concurrent stone disease is managed at the time of endoscopic renal inspection; may precede or follow biopsy
    50556Nephroscopy, percutaneous, with removal of stone(s) by nephrolithotomy; with or without lithotripsyRelated endoscopic renal procedures for stone management that may occur during the same operative session
    50549Nephrectomy, partial; with or without renal pelvis reconstructionPerformed later if biopsy reveals neoplasm requiring partial nephrectomy as definitive therapy

    Related Modifiers

    12 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    54Modifier ‑54 (“Surgical care only”) is appended to a CPT surgical procedure when the reporting surgeon performs the intraoperative (surgical) component but does not furnish the preoperative and/or…- Use modifier -54 when the reporting surgeon provided only the intraoperative (surgical) component of a procedure and preoperative and/or postoperative management has been or will be provided by…
    55Modifier –55 indicates the billing provider furnished only postoperative management for a procedure that has a global surgical period. According to AAPC, this modifier is appended to the same CPT…- Use modifier -55 when billing the same CPT surgical code that has a 10- or 90-day global period and you, as a provider other than the original surgeon, furnished ONLY postoperative management (no…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    63Modifier‑63 is appended to surgical CPT codes (20000–69990) when a procedure is performed on a neonate or infant weighing ≤ 4 kg (about 8.8 lbs). The AMA/AAPC definition specifies this use and notes…- Use modifier -63 only for surgical procedures in the CPT 20000–69990 series performed on a neonate or infant who weighs ≤ 4 kg at the time of the procedure; it indicates increased complexity due to…
    66Modifier 66 (Surgical Team) is used when three or more surgeons act as primary surgeons on a single, highly complex procedure. The AMA defines it for use when a surgical team — often composed of…- Use modifier 66 when three or more surgeons act as primary surgeons working collaboratively as a surgical team on a single, highly complex or difficult procedure (for example organ…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…

    Showing 1–10 of 12

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    208U00000X
    208800000X
    207RP1001X
    2080P0207X
    363L00000X
    246ZN0300X
    3418M1130X
    2084B0002X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Nephrology1 / 2

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Vafseo (vadadustat) for anemia in CKD on dialysisCigna2026-08-15
    Metabolic Disorders - Cysteamine (Oral) Products for Individual and Family PlansCigna2026-08-15
    Kerendia (finerenone) — Coverage CriteriaBlue Cross Blue Shield - Iowa2026-08-05
    Voyxact (sibeprenlimab-szsl) — Prior authorization / medical necessity for primary IgA nephropathyColorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-08-01
    Oxlumo (lumasiran) and Rivfloza (nedosiran) — Coverage Criteria (Ohio)Colorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-08-01
    Korsuva (difelikefalin) — Medical Benefit Drug Coverage Criteria (Ohio)Colorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-08-01
    Complement Inhibitors - EmpaveliCigna2026-08-01
    Tolvaptan (Jynarque)Cigna2026-08-01
    Nephrology - Filspari (sparsentan) coverageCigna2026-08-01
    Rivfloza (nedosiran) prior authorization for PH1UnitedHealthcare2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-50551-ENDOSCOPIC-EXAMINATION-KIDNEY-RENAL-PELVIS-URETER

    CPT 50551: Endoscopic Examination of Kidney via Existing Nephrostomy

    CPT-50553-ENDOSCOPIC-EXAMINATION-KIDNEY-RENAL-PELVIS-CATHETER

    CPT 50553: Nephroscopy Through Established Percutaneous/Pyelostomy Tract

    CPT-50557-ENDOSCOPIC-RENAL-PROCEDURE-TISSUE-DESTRUCTION-INCISION

    CPT 50557: Percutaneous Nephroscopy With Tissue Destruction/Incision

    CPT-50561-PERCUTANEOUS-RENAL-ENDOSCOPY-STONE-FOREIGN-BODY-REMOVAL

    CPT 50561: Percutaneous Nephroscopy with Stone/Foreign Body Removal

    CPT-50562-ENDOSCOPIC-RENAL-TUMOR-REMOVAL

    CPT 50562: Nephroscopy With Tumor Removal

    CPT-50570-PERCUTANEOUS-ENDOSCOPIC-RENAL-VISUALIZATION

    CPT 50570: Nephrostomy with Endoscopic Evaluation

    CPT-50572-ENDOSCOPIC-EXAMINATION-KIDNEY-RENAL-PELVIS-URETER

    CPT 50572: Nephrostomy Endoscope Examination of Kidney and Renal Pelvis

    CPT-50574-PERCUTANEOUS-ENDOSCOPIC-RENAL-EVALUATION-BIOPSY

    CPT 50574: Endoscopic Examination of Kidney with Biopsy

    CPT-50575-ANTEGRADE-ENDOPYELOTOMY-UPJ-STRICTURE

    CPT 50575: Antegrade Endopyelotomy for UPJ Stricture

    CPT-50576-ENDOSCOPIC-RENAL-PELVIS-EVALUATION-BIOPSY-ABLATION

    CPT 50576: Percutaneous Nephroscopy with Biopsy and Ablation

    Showing 1–10 of 11

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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