Wiki Cosurgeon and assistant

[kimberlyapetro]

Recently we have run into an issue with cosurgeons and an assistant in the same surgerical session. A doctor of a different specialty performs the approach then a neurosurgeon with an assistant completes the surgery. The problem we run into is the primary code is split with 2 of the surgeons the remainder of the codes are considered add ons which we can not add the assistant to without a primary. Can the primary have cosurgeons and an assistant?

 

[tree]

Surgeon/Co Surgeon Billing

We are also having issues, we billed with modifier 80 then found out only surgical codes apply, so we rebilled correctly, those are now coming back denied unless a nurse or tech etc.....is the assistant. Any feedback would be really appreciated.