Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: The physician performed motor evoked potentials during back surgery that our anesthesiologist reported with 00670. Is it appropriate to include modifier 22?

Alabama Subscriber

Answer: Before including modifier 22 (Increased procedural services) on your claim, verify that your anesthesiologist met CPT's coding guidelines: that "the work required to provide a service is substantially greater than typically required." Motor evoked potentials do increase case complexity from an anesthesia perspective because it limits the anesthetics your provider can use. If you have sufficient documentation to support modifier 22, append it to 00670 (Anesthesia for extensive spine and spinal cord procedures [e.g., spinal instrumentation or vascular procedures]). Remember that Medicare doesn't pay additional reimbursement for modifier 22.