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Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Modifier Justified:

Report Co-surgeries to Capture Deserved Payment

Published on Mon Jun 27, 2011

Procedure, modifier and documents determine your paymentIt's common in neurosurgery to encounter procedures where another surgeon was required to complete the surgery, so knowing how and when to report the services of another surgeon can help you avoid compromising payment for these claims."It is good to read the office note prior to surgery and the operative report in which the surgeon states that another surgeon will be helping with the approach or a specific part of a procedure. He is also listed as the co-surgeon on the operative report," explains Teresa Thomas, BBA, RHIT, CPC, Practice Manager II, St. John's Clinic -- Neurosurgery, Springfield, Missouri. To ensure full and timely payments focus on meticulous maintenance of records and proper use of modifiers.Make Sure the Procedure QualifiesNot all procedures that involve team work may qualify for payment for the services of assistants. CMS denies payment for assistants-at-surgery in some procedures that are [...]
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