Wiki Co-surgeon

[mcleveland]

I am a coder for neurosurgeons. I have 2 surgeons that performed a 3 level laminectomy on a patient for lumbar stenosis, they both dictated OP report as co-surgeon. This is a straightforward procedure. Should this be coded as Co-surgeon with a 62 modifier or as a First Assist with a 82 modifer, as we are a teaching facility?

 

[boogiebowden]

status indicator

Hi there,

Did you check the status indicator of your actual CPT code to see if the procedure itself allows for co-surgeon? As far as the potential -82 route does the surgeon state that a qualified resident wasn't available?