Anesthesia Coding Alert

Modifier Q6 doesn't apply to contract workers

If you-re coding for a physician in a locum tenens position, you can report modifier Q6 (Service furnished by a locum tenens physician) with the appropriate anesthesia code if he meets the locum criteria.

These criteria include: the regular physician is unavailable to provide the services because of vacation, illness, etc.; the patients have arranged for or seek to receive services from the regular physician; the substitute (locum tenens) physician provides services to the patients for no more than a continuous 60-day period; and others.

Caution: Remember that locum physicians are -place holders- for absentee group members for a maximum of 60 consecutive days. Don't use modifier Q6 on claims for independent contractors who supplement rather than replace a group member, says Donna Howe, CPC, with Anesthesiology Consultants of Eastern Connecticut in Manchester. 

Example: Some groups make arrangements with semi-retired physicians to work on days when the group is short-staffed or has a heavy schedule. These -fill-in- physicians are treated as temporary or per diem employees and are paid on a contract basis, so you won't submit their claims with modifier Q6.