Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: Can you explain the Q6 locum tenens modifier for anesthesia services? We are not sure whether it can be used to report CRNA services.

Alabama Subscriber

Answer: Modifier Q6 (Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician; … in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area) indicates the service was furnished under a Medicare fee-for-service time compensation — previously known as locum tenens — arrangement with a substitute physician.

“Services of non-physician practitioners (e.g., CRNAs, NPs, and PAs) may not be billed under the Fee-for-Service Time Compensation or reciprocal billing reassignment exceptions. These provisions apply only to physicians,” according to Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) Palmetto GBA. Therefore, a locum tenens certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) would not be allowed to report their services using this modifier. The CRNA must reassign their benefits to your group prior to billing Medicare.

Additional information is available on Palmetto’s website at www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/jjb.nsf/ DIDC/8EELHJ3576~Claims~Modifier Lookup.