nyyankees
True Blue
I have a documentation question for either a co-surgeon (62) or assistant surgeon(80). My dr (Dr A) performed a spinal fusion. A second Dr (Dr B) performed the approach and later on the closure. This is the documentation in Dr A's note:
"Dr B provided the approach for us. He performed a T9 thoracoabdominal approach with a rib resection of the ninth rib, and then got us down to the vertebral bodies and took the segmental vessel, and exposed everything for us. He will dictate that separately." My Dr then went on the perform the fusion. Towards the end of the surgery he then documented:
"Dr B now returned for the closure."
The surgical codes for Dr A are 22810, 20936, 22224. Since Dr B did the approach and did dictate his own op-report I am leaning towards using 22810-62 which would allow Dr B to bill out his own 22810-62. Am I wrong and since he only did an approach and closure and nothing else have Dr B use 22810-80 for assistant surgeon? Any suggestions or links to sites that better explain which documentation is needed for 80 or 62 modifiers. Thanks.
"Dr B provided the approach for us. He performed a T9 thoracoabdominal approach with a rib resection of the ninth rib, and then got us down to the vertebral bodies and took the segmental vessel, and exposed everything for us. He will dictate that separately." My Dr then went on the perform the fusion. Towards the end of the surgery he then documented:
"Dr B now returned for the closure."
The surgical codes for Dr A are 22810, 20936, 22224. Since Dr B did the approach and did dictate his own op-report I am leaning towards using 22810-62 which would allow Dr B to bill out his own 22810-62. Am I wrong and since he only did an approach and closure and nothing else have Dr B use 22810-80 for assistant surgeon? Any suggestions or links to sites that better explain which documentation is needed for 80 or 62 modifiers. Thanks.