Practice Management Alert

Question: I might be transferring to manage our hospital’s ASC location and want to learn more about coding in that setting. How can I find out which of the procedures our surgeons perform are covered by Medicare when performed in an ASC?

Washington Subscriber

Answer: Medicare posts the lists of allowed procedures for Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) payment at www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/ASCPayment/ASC-Regulations-and-Notices.html. Remember that Medicare pays the physician services separately from the ASC services.

Addendum AA shows the surgical procedures Medicare will pay the ASC for when performed in the ASC setting. For instance, you’ll find breast lesion excision on the list: 19120 (Excision of cyst, fibroadenoma, or other benign or malignant tumor, aberrant breast tissue, duct lesion, nipple or areolar lesion [except 19300], open, male or female, 1 or more lesions).

Addendum BB includes ancillary services the ASC will be reimbursed for. Ancillary refers to non-surgical procedures, such as 75822 (Venography, extremity, bilateral, radiological supervision and interpretation).

You’ll also find quarterly updates at www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/ASCPayment/11_Addenda_Updates.html.