Wiki PA's assist with open heart surgery

[mdileo]

We had an unusual case that was quiet lengthy and required the assistance of 2 physician assistant's. Has anyone ever had to or tried to bill for 2 PA's as assists, and what was the outcome ? Can we bill for 2 PA's as assist for the same case ?

Scenario-- 16 hour surgery.... one PA assists for first 8 hours then the other comes in to assist with the second half of surgery..... is it possible to bill for both ?

Any help, advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[lisigirl]

I've never had to bill for two but I don't think you can bill for both. Its like any other really long surgery. Surgeons sometimes need to replace each other, you don't bill for both in those situations (unless they are two different specialties performing different functions, then it would be a co-surgery), you only bill under one.

I think that is the case here, pick one to bill as the assistant.

Lisi, CPC
eharkler@nmh.org