CPT
50590 — Lithotripsy, extracorporeal shock wave
Verify the code matches the actual service and dose.
Surgery & procedures
55250 — Vasectomy, unilateral or bilateral, including postoperative semen examination
This code covers a vasectomy — the surgical cutting, tying, or blocking of the vas deferens (the tubes that carry sperm) for permanent male contraception.
- Typical setting: Hospital OR, urology clinic
- National avg charge (illustrative): $350-$650 commercial/self-pay (Medicare generally does NOT cover; commercial payer national average: $441-$548 per PayerPrice 2026)
- Most-disputed reason: Medicare billing: vasectomy is not a covered Medicare benefit and will be denied as not medically necessary — patients should not have Medicare billed for elective contraception
What it means
What 55250 actually means
This code covers a vasectomy — the surgical cutting, tying, or blocking of the vas deferens (the tubes that carry sperm) for permanent male contraception. The code includes any post-operative semen analyses performed to confirm success. Note: Medicare typically does not cover vasectomy as it is considered elective contraception and not medically necessary.
Common errors with this code
What goes wrong on real bills.
Most bills that look correct still contain at least one of these issues. Up to 49% of medical bills contain errors (CFPB).
- Medicare billing: vasectomy is not a covered Medicare benefit and will be denied as not medically necessary — patients should not have Medicare billed for elective contraception
- Double billing for semen analysis: the post-operative semen examination is included in 55250 — separately billing a laboratory code for semen analysis on a post-vasectomy check constitutes unbundling
- Upcoding for additional complexity: billing modifier -22 for 'increased complexity' without documentation of unusual anatomical difficulty or significantly increased operative time
If you see 55250 on your bill
Three steps before paying.
1. Get the itemized bill. If your statement only shows a summary, request the CPT-level itemized bill before paying. Generate the request language →
2. Cross-check against the EOB. Compare what your insurer's Explanation of Benefits says you owe versus what the hospital is asking. They disagree more often than people think. Read the bill-vs-EOB guide →
3. Run a free Bill Scan. Upload the bill (and EOB if you have it) and BillBusted will flag the most likely issues with this specific code in your specific state. Run free scan →
Related codes
Other codes in this category.
People who land on 55250 often also see these adjacent codes on the same bill.
CPT
57452 — Colposcopy of cervix including upper/adjacent vagina
Verify the code matches the actual service and dose.
CPT
58150 — Total abdominal hysterectomy , with/without tubes/ovaries
Verify the code matches the actual service and dose.
CPT
58571 — Laparoscopic total hysterectomy, uterus 250g or less, with/without tubes/ovaries
Verify the code matches the actual service and dose.
CPT
59400 — Routine obstetric care including antepartum care, vaginal delivery and postpartum care
Verify the code matches the actual service and dose.
Related BillBusted guides
Plain-English reads if you see 55250 on a bill.
55250 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does 55250 usually cost?
$350-$650 commercial/self-pay (Medicare generally does NOT cover; commercial payer national average: $441-$548 per PayerPrice 2026). Costs vary by region, payer contract, and whether the service was performed in a hospital outpatient department (which adds a facility fee) versus a free-standing clinic.
What's the most common billing error on 55250?
Medicare billing: vasectomy is not a covered Medicare benefit and will be denied as not medically necessary — patients should not have Medicare billed for elective contraception
What should I do if I see 55250 on my bill?
Request the itemized bill and the matching EOB from your insurer. Compare the units/quantity billed against what you actually received. Run a free BillBusted scan to flag the most likely errors specific to 55250 before paying.
Don't pay 55250 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.