Orthopedic Coding Alert

Don't forget this modifier to show who provided services You can ensure that your orthopedic surgeon gets paid for E/M services and minor surgical procedures performed in a teaching setting, as long as you know the requirements for Medicare's teaching physician rules. The lowdown: When your orthopedic surgeon works as a "teaching physician" (TP) and supervises a resident's services in a clinic or hospital setting, you will have to report your physician's work using the TP rules, according to the Medicare Carriers Manual (MCM), section 15016. The MCM defines a resident as an intern or fellow who's enrolled in an accredited graduate medical education (GME) program, says Marti Geron, CPC, CMA, CM, coding and reimbursement manager at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. Experts offer these field-tested strategies for reporting E/M services and minor surgical procedures using the teaching physician rules. Report Outpatient Service Based on -Key [...]