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Otolaryngology Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Do You Have a Substitute Doctor? Use Modifier -Q6

Published on Fri Jul 30, 2004

Question: When each of our otolaryngologists takes two weeks of vacation, another physician in town who isn't a member of our practice will fill in for them. Should I code differently when the substitute FP performs a service or procedure? Maine Subscriber Answer: You should submit the applicable E/M service and or procedure code under the regular otolaryngologist's personal identification number (PIN) or group number. Append modifier -Q5 (Service furnished by a substitute physician under a reciprocal billing arrangement) or -Q6 (Service furnished by a locum tenens physician) to the code to indicate that a substitute physician performed the service.
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