Wiki Multiple surgery modifier for Medicare

[Pam Baker]

The surgeon I work for does not contract with Medicare, so I (unfortunately) have not kept on their updates. Another surgeon I do coding for is getting denials on modifier 51 on multiple surgeries and was told that Medicare incorporates -51 into the additional procedures. Do they have another unique modifier they want you to use these days or just not use modifier 51, but still use others such as 22 or 59, etc.? Thanks in advance - guess I better hit the next Medicare Update on my own as my physician will not send me to any.

 

[JMeggett]

Pam ~ yeah, Medicare doesn't want us to use -51 on our claims any longer because they want to add that modifier to our claims themselves. When you get the EOB's back...notice they put the -51 on for us. No other modifier has this change, just -51. If you have access to the Internet at work, check out the Medicare Part B and Noridian websites...there are free webinars available.

Jenna