DecisionHealth, DecisionHealth - 2011 Issue 8 (August)

Misuse of modifier AS causing denied surgical claims for PAs

Using your physician assistants (PA) to assist in surgeries can free up your doctor’s time, but can also be a big reason for claims denials with surgical modifiers. Medicare claims data showed that PAs had a 16% denial rate for using both modifier 78 (return to or for related procedure, post op, same physician) and modifier AS (assistant in surgery) in 2009 and experts don’t believe that is a coincidence.

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