Cost Savings and Reimbursement

Cost Savings for Acute Care

Prevent catheter-associated UTI with the BladderScan^®, Realize Cost Savings

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) acquired in a hospital are a serious problem. They lengthen hospital stays and can create dangerous complications for acute care and post-operative patients. UTIs in extended care or skilled nursing facilities are an even greater problem, because patients in long-term care are more vulnerable to infection. In addition to the threat they pose to patient health, UTIs are extremely costly for hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Here are a few eye-opening facts about the cost of nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections:

• The average cost of one nosocomial UTI is estimated to be $1,875 per patient infection.
• The cost of UTI nationwide ranges from $150 million to $1.8 billion every year.
• 40 percent of all nosocomial infections occur in the urinary tract. Of these infections, 80 percent are caused by urinary tract catheterization and instrumentation.

Hospital-Acquired UTI can be Prevented

Minimizing catheterization is the key to reducing the rate of urinary tract infection. But, how can this be accomplished? Catheterization is often performed unnecessarily, because caregivers do not know how much urine is in a patient's bladder. BladderScan^® use prevents unnecessary catheterization by enabling caregivers to measure patients' bladder volumes noninvasively so they can determine whether or not catheterization is truly necessary. Using the BladderScan^®, you won't catheterize unless you need to. The BladderScan^® reduces the cost of care because it:

• Helps prevent unnecessary catheterization
• Saves on staff time and the cost of catheter kits
• Helps reduce the need for medication to treat infection caused by catheters
• Helps reduces the risk of complications from catheter-associated UTI, which can include septicemia, bacteriuria, post-operative wound infection, and renal disease and may lead to premature death

The BladderScan^® saves more than the money spent on UTI. It preserves patient dignity by reducing the need for an invasive and uncomfortable procedure. Patients are relieved to avoid catheterization, and nurses are equally relieved to avoid performing it. The BladderScan^® improves the quality of life for both patients and caregivers.

BladderScan^® Bladder Volume Instrument Cost Justification

Reimbursement for Private Practice

Reimbursement for BladderScan^® Bladder Volume Instruments and FloPoint^® Elite Uroflow Instruments is accomplished using the following CPT codes:

CPT 51741: Uroflowmetry, simple/complex measures the urine flow rate visually, electronically or with the use of a disposable unit. The flow rate reflects the combined activity of the detrusor muscle, bladder neck, and urethral function. Decreased flow rate may be due to poor detrusor function from, for example, neurologic lesions, obstructing BPH, or cystocele. Increased flow rate may indicate poor urethral function causing, for example, stress urinary incontinence (SUI) or intrinsic sphincter dysfunction (ISD).

CPT 51798: Measurement of post voiding residual urine and/or bladder capacity by ultrasound, non-imaging. Post-void residual (PVR) urine volume is the volume in the bladder immediately after the completion of voiding. The standard method of determining PVR urine volumes is intermittent catheterization, which is associated with increased risk of urinary infection, urethral trauma and discomfort for the patient. Bladder ultrasound has been introduced as an alternative, noninvasive method, to avoid the potential complications of intermittent catheterization

Final diagnosis coding remains the responsibility of the diagnosing physician.

ICD-9 Codes Supporting Medical Necessity of AortaScan^®/BladderScan^® Reimbursement Codes

• 51798 - Measurement of post-voiding residual volume and/or bladder capacity by ultrasound, non-imaging
• 51741 - Complex uroflowmetry (eg. calibrated electronic equipment)
• 76857 - Ultrasound, pelvic (nonobstetric), real time with image documentation; limited or follow-up
• 76775 -- Echography, retroperitoneal (eg., renal, aorta, notes), B-scan and/or real time with image documentation; limited
• G0389 -- Ultrasound, real time with image documentation; for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening (MEDICARE only)

Reimbursement for Extended Care