Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

Youre most likely to use modifier 22 in these situations. Catch-22: If youre using modifier 22 on almost all your ob-gyn surgical cases, youre headed for an audit. But if youre not using modifier 22 at all, you could be passing by avenues for ethical reimbursement. Some Medicare carriers have suggested that physicians should use modifier 22 (Increased procedural services) with fewer than 5 percent of all surgical cases, meaning you should apply modifier 22 sparingly. That doesnt, however, mean you should never use this modifier at all. Key: When a surgery may require significant additional time or effort that falls outside the range of services described by a particular CPT code -- and no other CPT code better describes the work involved in the procedure -- modifier 22 is your best option, says Marvel J. Hammer, RN, CPC, CCS-P, ACS-PM, CHCO, owner of MJH Consulting in Denver. Follow these expert tips, [...]