Coder's Cranium / Hot Coding Topics / modifier 62 / modifier 80 / modifier AS / multi-provider coding / Multiple procedures

Multi-Provider Coding: Modifier 62 Can Save You $4k

When you come face-to-face with multi-provider situation, the last thing you would want is to mess up your coding by assigning the wrong modifier(s).

Imagine a 70-year-old female patient presenting with COPD and coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction (CAD s/p MI) having a 28 mm of inner diameter thoracic aortic aneurysm. Imaging studies indicate the aneurysm to be descending. The cardiologist, together with a thoracic surgeon, decides to perform an open operative repair with graft replacement of the diseased segment.

The main key in a multi-provider scenario is to treat each physician’s work as a separate activity. However, deciding when to report a case as co-surgery, assistant surgery — or something else — has more to it than meets the eye. Find out what with this expert’s advice.

You know that a modifier is at hand in this case, but more importantly you should be able to tell what role each modifier plays in order for your procedure codes to blend well together. Here are the most common modifiers used in multi-provider situations:

  • Modifier 62 (Two surgeons). Append this to each surgeon’s procedure when the physicians perform distinct, separate portions of the same procedure. Also referred to as co-surgery, modifier 62 applies when the skill of two surgeons (usually of different skills) is required in the management of a specific surgical procedure.
  • Choose between modifier 80 (Assistant surgeon), modifier 81 (Minimum assistant surgeon), and modifier 82 (Assistant surgeon [when qualified resident surgeon not available]) when one surgeon assists the other with multiple portions of the case rather than completing his work independently. What to look for? Make sure your physician indicates in his documentation that he’s working with an assistant surgeon, what the assistant surgeon did, and why he or she was used during the case.
  • Attach modifier AS

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February 15, 2011
CPT Medical Changes / Hot Coding Topics

Turn To 37224-37227 For Your Femoral/Popliteal Codes

CPT’s definition of a ‘single vessel’ for this territory is an exception to the rule.

CPT 2011 adds new codes for lower extremity endovascular revascularization covering angioplasty, atherectomy, and stenting, noted Stacy Gregory, CCC, CPC, RCC, of Gregory Medical Consulting Services, in her presentation, “Peripheral Vascular Coding Tactics,” at the 2011 Coding Update and Reimbursement Conference in Orlando (www.codingconferences.com).

This article focuses on the femoral/popliteal codes 37224-37227. “37220 to +37223 Revamp Your Iliac Intervention Coding Options” in Cardiology Coding Alert discussed the iliac codes. Look to a future issue to cover tibial/peroneal codes 37288-+37235.

The new femoral/popliteal service codes are below. Note that all of the codes include angioplasty in the same vessel when that service is performed:

  • Angioplasty: 37224 — Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, femoral/popliteal artery(s), unilateral; with transluminal angioplasty
  • Atherectomy (and angioplasty): 37225 — … with atherectomy, includes angioplasty within the same vessel, when performed
  • Stent (and angioplasty): 37226 — … with transluminal stent placement(s), includes angioplasty within the same vessel, when performed
  • Stent and atherectomy (and angioplasty): 37227 — … with transluminal stent placement(s) and atherectomy, includes angioplasty within the same vessel, when performed.

The general rule for 37224-37227 is that you should report the one code that represents the most intensive service performed in a single lower extremity vessel. All lesser services are included in that one code.

When the cardiologist performs a stent placement, atherectomy, and angioplasty in the left popliteal vessel, you should report only 37227.

That code covers stent placement, atherectomy, and angioplasty. You should not report 37224 (angioplasty), 37225 (atherectomy), or 37226 (stent placement) separately or in addition to 37227 in this scenario.

As explained in the last issue of Cardiology Coding Alert, CPT guidelines state that — in addition to the intervention performed...

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January 19, 2011
CPT / Hot Coding Topics / Medicare

Medicare 2010 CPT Consultation Code Changes

New rules for consult coding straight from the AMA Meeting in Chicago — plus where your practice will gain and lose reimbursement. If you can’t figure out how to match a low level consult to an initial hospital care code, you’re not alone. Code 99251 doesn’t crosswalk to 99221, agreed William J. Mangold, Jr., MD, JD, Noridian [...] Related articles:

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November 12, 2009
Coding Challenge / modifier 59

Cardiology Coding Question: Separate Reporting for 37204

Question: Should I separately report right and left bronchial artery embolization? Answer: You should report 37204 (Transcatheter occlusion or embolization [e.g., for tumor destruction, to achieve hemostasis, to occlude a vascular malformation], percutaneous, any method, non-central nervous system, non-head or neck) twice for right and left lung embolization at the same encounter. In addition, if the cardiologist [...] Related articles:

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  3. OB or Not OB: That’s the Ultrasound Coding QuestionQuestion: For an ultrasound, the radiologist documented measurements of the uterus,...

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November 7, 2009