Anesthesia Coding Alert
Incomplete Medical Direction
Bonnie Brown
Mountain Home Radiology Consultants, Ark.
Answer: As you know, the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) has specific criteria that must be met before a case can be considered medically directed (sometimes referred to as the seven rules of medical direction [listed on page 11]). In the situation you describe, using the -QZ modifier (CRNA service without medical direction by a physician) is probably your best coding option.
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