Wiki Billing for Assistant Surgeon

[sjmccarl52]

When billing for the assistant surgeon, do you need to have a note from the assisting surgeon to bill the procedure code with modifier 80?

 

[mbort]

no, an op note is not necessary for an assistant surgery using the modifier 80.

an op note is necessary for co-surgeons using the 62 modifier

 

[pmaho]

The assistant surgeon does not have to dictate a note, but the attending surgeon should include language indication the need for assistance and the to what extent the surgeon assisted.

Patrick