Wiki PEG Placement with assistant surgeon?

[andreagail]

I code/bill for 2 different GI practices (2 GI docs each) both of which perform PEG placements regularly. One practice submits their reports often as "assistant surgeon" for the PEG placement, the docs say that one should bill for the EGD and the other for the PEG placement. I do not believe that this is correct. The one code 43246 includes both the endoscopy and the PEG placement and cannot be bill with modifier 80 for assistant surgeon. If anyone has any other experience with this code and 2 doctors billing for the same procedure, please help!

FYI, my other GI practice just bills for one doctor performing the procedure, this is the way I think is correct.

Any insights would be appreciated
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Andrea

 

[lindacoder]

According to"Code Correct" assistant surgeon is allowed with supporting documentation. Might be worth a try to get it paid.