tci Part B Insider - 2009 Issue 19

MODIFIERS : Put Patient -- Not Money -- First With Split Surgical Care

Plus: Pay attention to whether your payer is recognizing your modifiers. You should never report services using modifiers 54 and 55 simply because of the practices financial benefit. Your physician needs to document in the medical record, prior to surgery, the reason for providing shared care, as well as the patients request for, understanding of, and agreement to this care plan. The way these modifiers should be used is for the convenience of the patient, stresses Maggie Mac, CPC,CEMC, CHC, CMM, ICCE, manager at Pershing Yoakley & Associates, P.C. in Clearwater, Fla. Example: A patient wants to...

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