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    OpenPayerBilling CodesIntroduction Procedures on the BladderCPT cpt-51701-intermittent-urinary-catheterization-residual-urine
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    CPT 51701: Intermittent Urethral Catheterization, Non‑Indwelling

    Medicare pays $47 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 51701 describes placement of a non–indwelling urethral catheter for intermittent catheterization or to obtain post-void residual urine, typically performed as a short procedural service in an outpatient clinic, emergency department, or office setting where the catheter is removed after use on the same day.

    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 who presents to an outpatient clinic, emergency department, or skilled nursing facility with urinary retention, suspected significant post-void residual, or need for intermittent catheterization to obtain a sterile urine sample. The clinician performs 51701 by inserting a sterile, non‑indwelling catheter through the urethra into the bladder, draining urine, documenting residual volume, and removing the catheter the same day. The workflow includes assessment of indication (retention, overflow incontinence, neurologic bladder dysfunction, or sample collection), informed consent, hand hygiene and sterile technique, catheter insertion and drainage, measurement and documentation of urine volume and appearance, monitoring for immediate complications (trauma, hematuria, vasovagal response), and patient education about signs of infection or complications. The procedure is typically performed by urologists, emergency physicians, primary care clinicians, or trained nursing staff under protocol, and is billed for a single, temporary catheterization event where no indwelling catheter is left in place.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    51702Placement of indwelling urinary catheter; simple (e.g., Foley)Alternative when an indwelling catheter is indicated instead of a non‑indwelling catheter; may follow failed 51701 attempts.
    51703Placement of indwelling urinary catheter; complicated (e.g., requiring bladder neck repair)Performed when catheter placement is technically difficult or requires additional maneuvers beyond simple insertion.
    51701Insertion of non‑indwelling bladder catheter (intermittent catheterization)The primary procedure described; used for diagnostic residual measurement or intermittent drainage.
    51741Catheterization, with collection of urine from a continent reservoirPerformed for patients with urinary reservoirs where a different catheter technique is needed.
    51798Unlisted urinary catheterization procedureUsed when catheter-related services are performed that do not match established codes; rarely used when atypical technique is required.

    Related Modifiers

    7 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.,…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    363L00000X
    207R00000X
    207Q00000X
    163W00000X
    171000000X
    261QH0700X
    225XP0019X
    2471M2300X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    27 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    E86.0Dehydration
    E86.1Hypovolemia
    F33.9Major depressive disorder, recurrent, unspecified
    G04.90Encephalitis and encephalomyelitis, unspecified
    G83.4Cauda equina syndrome
    N10Acute pyelonephritis
    N13.30Unspecified hydronephrosis
    N13.8Other obstructive and reflux uropathy
    N13.9Obstructive and reflux uropathy, unspecified
    N18.4Chronic kidney disease, stage 4 (severe)

    Showing 1–10 of 27

    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-51700-BLADDER-IRRIGATION-INSTILLATION

    CPT 51700: Bladder Instillation and Irrigation via Catheter

    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.
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