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Orthopedic Coding Alert

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Extra Compensation for Obese Patient Case

Published on Fri Aug 16, 2013

Question: Recently, our surgeon performed spinal fusion (22630) on an extremely obese patient. The surgeon feels as though the patients weight was a complicating factor in the surgery and subsequent recovery. Can we gain additional compensation for this, perhaps using modifier 22?
Illinois Subscriber Answer: You could possibly obtain additional reimbursement by appending modifier 22 (Increased procedural services) [...]
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