BS&SC
Networker
I am typing this in a hurry, so I hope my question reads clearly. I am new to surgical coding and my providers have communicated that they always have another provider standing by when they do deliveries (OB/GYN) but they don't document in their op note if that person is called in to help what that person does. I have tried to rectify this and a couple have added addendums showing the necessity (patient was hypotensive and hemorrhaging). Today I got one that wanted the 80 mod because, "The 5mm port site 3cm above the ASIS and 8cm from the midline on the right side was placed by assistant Dr.____. The left fallopian tube was grasped with the Maryland grasper by Dr. ___ to assist in elevating the tube while I used the harmonic scalpel to make successive cauterizations and cutting to excise the left fallopian tube. The right fallopian tube was excised with the Harmonic scalpel by Dr. ____ while I elevated it with the Maryland graspers."
I did not feel this showed urgency or medical necessity for the presence of an assistant. And, at most, only for the use of the partial assist modifier, though I don't think I have seen any OB/GYN codes that allow for the use of that mod. So, am I wrong that the documentation is lacking medical necessity for an assistant? Does anyone have a good educational site showing proper examples of documentation for the 80 modifier.
Also, my understanding is that the 80 modifier allows for 16% of the total of the procedure cost. Is this correct or is it 16% in addition to the cost of the procedure?
Thanks in advance!
I did not feel this showed urgency or medical necessity for the presence of an assistant. And, at most, only for the use of the partial assist modifier, though I don't think I have seen any OB/GYN codes that allow for the use of that mod. So, am I wrong that the documentation is lacking medical necessity for an assistant? Does anyone have a good educational site showing proper examples of documentation for the 80 modifier.
Also, my understanding is that the 80 modifier allows for 16% of the total of the procedure cost. Is this correct or is it 16% in addition to the cost of the procedure?
Thanks in advance!