Summary & Overview
CPT 59812: Vaginal Uterine Evacuation for Retained Products of Conception
CPT code 59812 represents a vaginal surgical uterine evacuation performed to remove retained products of conception after a miscarriage. Nationally, this code captures a common gynecologic intervention that affects obstetrics and gynecology service lines and hospital-based surgical care. It is relevant for inpatient and outpatient surgical billing, care coordination, and payer coverage determinations.
Key payers addressed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find context on clinical use, typical sites of service, and common billing modifiers associated with this type of surgical procedure. The publication outlines national benchmarks and payment policy summaries where available, clarifies coding scope for the procedure, and summarizes clinical circumstances that typically prompt use of the code. This overview is intended for revenue cycle managers, clinicians involved in gynecologic care, and policy analysts seeking a concise reference to how this uterine evacuation procedure is coded and billed at a national level.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 59812 describes a surgical procedure to remove retained products of conception following a miscarriage using a vaginal approach. This procedure involves extraction of fetal or placental tissue that has not been expelled spontaneously.
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Service type: Surgical procedure (gynecologic uterine evacuation)
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Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgical center with gynecologic surgical capability
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 32-year-old patient presents to the labor and delivery unit after a spontaneous miscarriage at approximately 10 weeks' gestation. The patient reports heavy vaginal bleeding, cramping, and passage of tissue earlier in the day but retains incomplete products of conception on transvaginal ultrasound. The obstetrician-gynecologist evaluates vital signs, performs a focused pelvic exam, confirms retained tissue likely causing ongoing bleeding and risk of infection, and obtains informed consent for surgical management. The patient is taken to an operating room or ambulatory procedure room for a dilation and suction procedure via the vaginal approach to remove retained products of conception. The clinical workflow includes preoperative assessment, administration of appropriate anesthesia (local, sedation, or general depending on clinical and patient factors), dilation of the cervix as needed, suction curettage or sharp curettage if indicated, hemostasis, postoperative recovery, discharge instructions, and documentation of the procedure, findings, and follow-up plan.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | Reserved/invalid (historical) | Not typically reported; present in source list but not used for active billing |
11 |