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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesRemoval Procedures on the BladderCPT cpt-51100-bladder-aspiration-percutaneous-needle
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    CPT 51100: Bladder Aspiration, Percutaneous Needle

    Medicare pays $77 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 51100 describes a percutaneous bladder aspiration (needle aspiration) performed to obtain a urine sample or provide temporary relief of acute urinary retention; the service is a brief, minimally invasive procedure typically performed in an ambulatory clinic, emergency department, or bedside setting using percutaneous needle technique to access the bladder and aspirate urine.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Surgical Procedures, Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of Service, Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) Select — Surgical or Diagnostic Procedures in Adults.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is an adult presenting to the emergency department or clinic with acute urinary retention, oliguria with inability to void, or when a sterile urine sample is required and catheterization is contraindicated (for example, severe urethral trauma or urethral stricture preventing transurethral catheterization). The patient may report lower abdominal distention, suprapubic pain, and inability to void. Initial evaluation includes vital signs, focused abdominal and genitourinary exam, bedside bladder ultrasound to assess post-void residual or bladder volume, and review of anticoagulation status and coagulation studies when indicated. After informed consent and identification of anatomic landmarks, percutaneous bladder aspiration (needle aspiration) is performed under aseptic technique, often with local anesthesia. A needle or small-bore catheter is inserted percutaneously into the bladder to aspirate urine for diagnostic testing or to temporarily relieve retention. The specimen is sent to the laboratory for urinalysis, urine culture, or other testing. Post-procedure monitoring includes assessment for hematuria, abdominal pain, signs of infection, and hemodynamic stability. Documentation includes indication, imaging guidance if used, consent, technique, amount of urine obtained, specimens sent, and any complications or patient tolerance.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    52000Cystourethroscopy, diagnostic; with or without collection of specimen(s) by brushing or washingMay be performed before or after aspiration when direct visualization of the urethra/bladder is needed or when urethral obstruction is evaluated.
    51701Irrigation of urinary catheter, simple (e.g., washout to restore patency)Performed in patients with indwelling catheters who develop obstruction or to maintain catheter patency as an alternative to aspiration in some workflows.
    51702Retrograde urethrogram, radiological supervision and interpretationUsed when urethral injury or stricture is suspected and bladder emptying via urethra is contraindicated, guiding decision to perform percutaneous aspiration.
    51701 is listed above and repeated for context.N/AN/A
    51741Insertion of temporary indwelling bladder catheter; simple (e.g., Foley)Often performed after aspiration if ongoing bladder drainage is required and urethral access is feasible.
    51702 is listed above and repeated for context.N/AN/A

    Related Modifiers

    7 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…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    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…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    73Modifier 73 indicates a facility-level outpatient hospital or ASC procedure that was discontinued after the patient was prepared and taken to the procedure/operating room but before any anesthesia…- When to use: Apply CPT modifier 73 on the FACILITY (outpatient hospital or ASC) claim when the patient has been fully prepared and physically taken into the procedure/operating room but the…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    363A00000X
    208000000X
    207P00000X
    207L00000X
    122300000X
    2279E0002X
    2084N0402X
    246ZG0701X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: General Surgery1 / 2

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Surgical ProceduresUnitedHealthcare2026-09-01
    Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of ServiceUnitedHealthcare2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) Select — Surgical or Diagnostic Procedures in AdultsPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Select — Surgical or Diagnostic Procedures in AdultsPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) SelectPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Select — Site of Service for Ambulatory Surgical Procedures (ASC Select)Premera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) SelectPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of Servicesierra health and life2026-08-01
    Medical Necessity Guidelines — Inpatient Surgical CareMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-08-01
    Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) - Site of Care PolicyKaiser Permanente2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-51101-BLADDER-ASPIRATION-URINE-SAMPLE-ACUTE-RETENTION

    CPT 51101: Bladder Aspiration for Urine Collection or Retention

    CPT-51102-ASPIRATION-BLADDER-SUPRAPUBIC-CATHETER-INSERTION

    CPT 51102: Aspiration of Bladder with Suprapubic Catheter Insertion

    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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