tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert - 2001 Issue 4

Reader Question: Surgery Assistant

Question: A patient presented to the ED with a ruptured appendix and had to be taken to the operating room. Because no one else was available, our ED physician served as the assistant surgeon (his ED shift had ended). The ED visit was billed as a level five (99285). How should I bill for the assistant surgery?Kentucky Subscriber Answer: Both the primary and assistant surgeon should report the same procedure code (44950, appendectomy). However, the physician assistant should append modifier -80 (assistant surgeon) to the claim to indicate to the payer that he is eligible for a portion...

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