Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: What tips should I keep in mind when coding for a teaching physician who is involved in a single anesthesia procedure with a resident?

Oregon Subscriber

Answer: When a teaching anesthesiologist works with one resident during a single procedure, Medicare will reimburse a non-reduced fee schedule payment. The teaching physician will need to record in the medical record that he was present during all essential and critical parts of the procedure (such as induction and emergence and any ancillary procedures, such as an arterial line).

Pay attention: The teaching physician’s physical presence during the preoperative or postoperative visits with the beneficiary is not sufficient to receive payment. He must be present during the actual procedure and document such. Append modifier GC (This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician) to the anesthesia code and any ancillary services to explain the situation.