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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesIntroduction Procedures on the BladderCPT cpt-51702-bladder-catheterization-placement-management
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    CPT 51702: Non‑indwelling Bladder Catheterization

    Medicare pays $68 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 51702 describes catheterization of the bladder using a non‑indwelling (intermittent) catheter to obtain urine specimens, relieve retention, or perform short‑term bladder drainage; the service is typically classified as a procedure for bladder catheterization and is performed in ambulatory settings, emergency departments, and inpatient hospital settings depending on clinical need.

    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 72-year-old male nursing home resident with a history of benign prostatic hyperplasia and urinary retention is admitted to the hospital with acute urinary retention and lower abdominal discomfort. After initial evaluation, bladder ultrasound confirms significant post-void residual volume. An indwelling urinary catheter is ordered for continuous bladder drainage. The procedure is performed at the bedside in an inpatient ward by a urology advanced practice provider under sterile technique. The clinical workflow includes consent as appropriate, hand hygiene, sterile field setup, cleansing of the urethral meatus, lubrication of the catheter, catheter insertion into the bladder, confirmation of urine return, inflation of the retention balloon (if indwelling), securement of the catheter to the thigh, documentation of catheter size and type, monitoring of urine output, and patient/caregiver education on catheter care. Potential reasons for use include acute urinary retention, perioperative bladder management, or accurate urine output measurement in a medically complex patient.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    51702This code describes catheterization of the bladder via an indwelling urethral catheter (simple catheterization)Primary procedure for placement of an indwelling urethral catheter for bladder drainage
    51701Insertion of temporary indwelling catheter; simple (e.g., Foley)Alternative reporting for certain catheter insertions depending on payer guidance and exact technique
    51703Exchange or reinsertion of indwelling urethral catheter, complicated (e.g., with cystoscopy)Performed when catheter placement is complex or requires visualization, as may follow failed 51702 attempts
    51720Irrigation of urinary catheter, simplePerformed post-catheterization for maintenance or to address occlusion
    51701Catheter insertion, non-indwelling (straight)Used for single intermittent catheterization when continuous drainage is not intended

    Related Modifiers

    9 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…
    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…
    79Modifier 79 indicates a surgical procedure performed during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery that is unrelated to the original procedure. Per AMA/CPT and CMS guidance, it is…- Use modifier 79 when the same physician (or same‑specialty physician in the same group) performs a surgical procedure during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery and the new procedure…
    24Modifier 24 denotes an unrelated evaluation and management (E/M) service performed by the same physician or qualified healthcare professional during a postoperative global period. Per CPT guidance,…- Use modifier 24 when you report an evaluation and management (E/M) service performed by the same physician or same-specialty group during a procedure’s postoperative global period that is unrelated…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    363L00000X
    208000000X
    208D00000X
    310400000X
    101Y00000X
    207YX0901X
    315D00000X
    2278E1000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    27 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    G82.20Paraplegia, unspecified
    G83.4Cauda equina syndrome
    I97.3Postprocedural hypertension
    N13.6Pyonephrosis
    N17.9Acute kidney failure, unspecified
    N18.9Chronic kidney disease, unspecified
    N31.9Neuromuscular dysfunction of bladder, unspecified
    N32.0Bladder-neck obstruction
    N32.81Overactive bladder
    N39.0Urinary tract infection, site not specified

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

    CPT 51701: Intermittent Urethral Catheterization, Non‑Indwelling

    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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