CPT Knowledgebase - Jul 6, 2022

Is it appropriate to append the 51 modifier and take a multiple procedure reduction for a procedure code that is the primary code for the assistant surgeon ? The primary used a co-surgeon for the anterior portion of a spinal fusion and then performed a laminectomy posteriorly reporting CPT 63047. The 51 modifier was appended, and the 50 percent reduction was taken. The assistant surgeon assisted on the posterior portion only (63047), is it appropriate to append the 51 modifier for assistant surgeon, since it was a multiple procedure for the primary surgeon he was assisting ?

To view the Official AMA answer and 1000s more like this:

CPT® Knowledge Base is a compendium of real life coding questions asked by the coding community and answered by CPT® coding experts.

Over 2900 questions and authoritative answers from the CPT® professionals at the AMA. Get specific answers to challenging coding questions, and search the knowledge base of others' real world questions.

Access to this feature is available in the following products:
  • AMA's CPT® Advanced Coding Pack

demo
request yours today
 subscribe
start today
 newsletter
free subscription

Thank you for choosing Find-A-Code, please Sign In to remove ads.