Loading...

    Explore
    • Policy Monitoring
    • Live Policy Feed
    • Billing Codes
    • NPI Medicare & Medicaid
    • Healthcare Providers
    • Health Insurance Payers
    • States
    • Service Lines
    • Taxonomy Codes
    Lookup tools
    • Billing Code Lookup
    • CPT Modifier Lookup
    • Provider Taxonomy Code Lookup
    • Healthcare Provider & Facility Lookup
    • Health Insurance Payer Lookup
    • Payer Contact Directory

    Policy & Benchmark Tools

    • Prior Authorization Lookup
    • Coverage Criteria Lookup
    • Timely Filing Lookup
    • Billing Code Reimbursement Rates
    • Payer Comparison Dashboard
    • Facility Comparison Dashboard
    • All tools

    Company

    • About OpenPayer
    • Data Sources
    • Trek Health
    OpenPayerby Trek Health
    LinkedInYouTube

    © 2026 Trek Health. All rights reserved.

    OpenPayer is built and maintained by Trek Health.

    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesIntroduction Procedures on the BladderCPT cpt-51700-bladder-irrigation-instillation
    Ask Trek AI about this page

    CPT 51700: Bladder Instillation and Irrigation via Catheter

    Medicare pays $81 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 51700 describes bladder irrigation and instillation, a procedure to deliver medication directly into the bladder via a catheter for conditions such as infection or interstitial cystitis; service type: bladder instillation/irrigation; typical site of service: outpatient clinic, urology procedure room, or inpatient bedside where catheter access is available.

    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.

    Customize your policy alerts

    Sign up for cpt 51700 policy alerts

    Get alerted when payer policies referencing 51700 are released or updated.

    Monitor payer policy activity

    Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

    Table of contents

    Progress1 / 7

    Explore openpayer tools

    • Billing CodesCPT, HCPCS, DRG & more
    • Reimbursement RatesCommercial vs. Medicare rate reports
    • Facility ComparisonBeds, revenue & payer mix
    • ProvidersHospitals & facilities
    • PayersPlans & market footprint
    • Taxonomy CodesNUCC specialty codes
    • ModifiersCPT modifiers & usage
    • Prior AuthorizationPA policies by payer & drug
    • Timely FilingFiling deadlines by payer
    • Coverage CriteriaMedical necessity by payer
    • Payer ContactsClaims, PA & appeals contacts
    View all tools

    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is an adult woman with recurrent bladder pain and urinary urgency due to interstitial cystitis or a patient with hemorrhagic cystitis following chemotherapy or pelvic radiation. The patient commonly presents to an outpatient urology clinic, an ambulatory surgery center, or an inpatient ward with persistent bladder symptoms despite oral therapy. After assessment, a clinician performs 51700 (bladder irrigation and instillation) to deliver an anti‑inflammatory, anesthetic, or hemostatic agent directly into the bladder via an indwelling urethral or suprapubic catheter. The clinical workflow includes informed consent, verification of medication and concentration, catheter access and bladder drainage, instillation of the prescribed solution, a dwell period as indicated, and observation for immediate adverse effects such as urinary retention or allergic reaction. Documentation includes indication, medication name and dose, catheter route, volume instilled, dwell time, patient tolerance, and any complications. Typical sites of service are outpatient urology clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, emergency departments, and inpatient hospital units when bladder instillation is required for acute hemorrhage control or severe cystitis.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    51702Irrigation of indwelling urethral catheter, simple, without anesthesiaPerformed for catheter maintenance or to clear obstruction; may precede or follow 51700.
    51701Irrigation of indwelling urethral catheter, with anesthesia or complex techniqueUsed when additional maneuvers or anesthesia are required during catheter irrigation, potentially in complex instillation cases.
    52000Cystourethroscopy, diagnostic, with or without collection of specimen(s) by brushing or washingMay be performed before instillation to evaluate bladder mucosa or obtain samples.
    52204Cystourethroscopy, with biopsy(s), single or multiplePerformed when bladder pathology requires tissue diagnosis prior to therapeutic instillation.
    51720Continuous bladder irrigation, postoperative or for hematuriaRelated when ongoing irrigation is needed for hemorrhagic cystitis; may follow instillation for hemostatic control.

    Related Modifiers

    6 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    25CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    2083X0100X
    101YA0400X
    231HA2400X
    405300000X
    261QF0400X
    364SE1400X
    207PH0002X
    344800000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    21 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    B95.61Methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infection as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere
    B95.62Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere
    B96.89Other specified bacterial agents as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere
    N30.10Interstitial cystitis (chronic) without hematuria
    N30.11Interstitial cystitis (chronic) with hematuria
    N30.80Other cystitis without hematuria
    N30.81Other cystitis with hematuria
    N31.9Neuromuscular dysfunction of bladder, unspecified
    N32.89Other specified disorders of bladder
    N34.1Nonspecific urethritis

    Showing 1–10 of 21

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: General Surgery1 / 3

    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-51600-VOIDING-CYSTOURETHROGRAM-VCUG-MCUG

    CPT 51600: Voiding Cystourethrogram (VCUG)

    CPT-51605-URETHROCYSTOGRAPHY-CONTRAST-INSTILLATION-WITH-CHAIN-PLACEMENT

    CPT 51605: Urethrocystography with Contrast and Catheter Insertion

    CPT-51610-URETHROCYSTOGRAPHY-URETHRA-BLADDER-CONTRAST-STUDY

    CPT 51610: Urethrocystography with Retrograde Contrast

    CPT-51701-INTERMITTENT-URINARY-CATHETERIZATION-RESIDUAL-URINE

    CPT 51701: Intermittent Urethral Catheterization, Non‑Indwelling

    CPT-51702-BLADDER-CATHETERIZATION-PLACEMENT-MANAGEMENT

    CPT 51702: Non‑indwelling Bladder Catheterization

    CPT-51703-BLADDER-CATHETERIZATION-PROCEDURE

    CPT 51703: Indwelling Bladder Catheter Insertion

    CPT-51705-BLADDER-TUBE-REPLACEMENT-SIMPLE-EXCHANGE

    CPT 51705: Simple Removal and Replacement of Bladder Tube

    CPT-51710-COMPLICATED-BLADDER-CATHETER-REPLACEMENT

    CPT 51710: Replacement of Indwelling Bladder Tube, Complicated

    CPT-51715-ENDOSCOPIC-URETHRAL-BLADDER-NECK-INJECTION-INCONTINENCE

    CPT 51715: Endoscopic Urethral/Bladder Neck Bulking Injection

    CPT-51720-INTRAVESICAL-INSTILLATION-ANTICARCINOGENIC-AGENT

    CPT 51720: Intravesical Anticarcinogenic Instillation for Bladder Cancer

    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.
    Published by

    Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

    Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.