melheffley
Networker
I bill for a cardiologist, as well as an electrophysiology sub specialist. We are not only getting denials from insurance for the subspecialties, but against visits by other physicians (internal med or even a different specialty--we have over 65 MDs in 22 specialties) of our practice on the same day. There is one insurance in particular that still says there is a concurrent care modifier that needs to be put on these claims, but will not tell us what one they want.
For example: Patient is admitted to inpatient for chest pain and abnormal EKG. The day after admission, the patient is seen for a subsequent hosp visit by our cardiologist (dx 786.50) and our nephrologist (dx 276.8). The visit for the cardiologist was denied as bundled. Even after submitting an appeal with the notes from both physicians showing the necessity, they continue to uphold their denial, stating we need to append the concurrent care modifier. In one letter, they even go on to say that "this situation may be reported by adding modifier 77 to the repeated procedure/service". By all documentation that we find, a 77 cannot be put on an e/m service.
Is this type of situation something that would justify a 25 modifier? We have always thought of the 25 to be a separate procedure by the same physician.
If anyone else has ran into this and found a solution, or a reference to check out, your help would be greatly appreciated.
For example: Patient is admitted to inpatient for chest pain and abnormal EKG. The day after admission, the patient is seen for a subsequent hosp visit by our cardiologist (dx 786.50) and our nephrologist (dx 276.8). The visit for the cardiologist was denied as bundled. Even after submitting an appeal with the notes from both physicians showing the necessity, they continue to uphold their denial, stating we need to append the concurrent care modifier. In one letter, they even go on to say that "this situation may be reported by adding modifier 77 to the repeated procedure/service". By all documentation that we find, a 77 cannot be put on an e/m service.
Is this type of situation something that would justify a 25 modifier? We have always thought of the 25 to be a separate procedure by the same physician.
If anyone else has ran into this and found a solution, or a reference to check out, your help would be greatly appreciated.