Advanced Search

Urology Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Ease Coding for Assistant at Surgery

Published on Sun Dec 01, 2002

Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the box below for the answer.

Question: One of our physicians performed a complete pelvic exenteration and a bilateral pelvic lyphadenectomy. At the same time, he assisted another surgeon who performed the ureteroileal conduit in the same setting. Our Medicare carrier will not reimburse the assistant surgeon. So now we do not bill for any assistant surgeon who performs a major procedure and simultaneously assists another surgeon who performs another procedure in the same setting and bills for the service. Is this policy correct? New York Subscriber
       
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Urology Coding Alert

View All