Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: What modifiers do we add to the claim when a provider is involved in two concurrent anesthesia cases with residents?

Mississippi Subscriber

Answer: If you're coding for two Medicare cases, append modifiers AA (Anesthesia services performed personally by anesthesiologist) and GC (This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician) to each claim. Medicare now reimburses 100 percent for two concurrent cases involving residents.

Payer change: If you're not dealing with Medicare, check the payer's policies. Some model their anesthesia guidelines after CMS and request the same modifiers. Others establish different rules so you want to comply with those requirements instead.