Wiki Tka-asist becomes primary surgeon

[gmlittle]

Two Drs from the same practice are doing a tka. the primary dr after opening up is unable to continue and the assist takes over and completes the surgery. Can you bill for both surgeons with modifier 62 or is there a better way to bill?

 

[nyyankees]

Two Drs from the same practice are doing a tka. the primary dr after opening up is unable to continue and the assist takes over and completes the surgery. Can you bill for both surgeons with modifier 62 or is there a better way to bill?

Interesting as I would say yes based on the fact that the first doc did the approach (incision) which I used for my spine co-surgeries.

 

[caromissunc1]

Are both of the docs orthopods? Then depending on how much was done, the assist would become the primary surgeon. If the assist performed the procedure, except for the exposure, then he/she would become the primary and the other surgeon would become the assist. The best way to code this would be modifier 62.