Wiki Physician Assistant performing procedures

[bobby4tony]

Hi,

We currently have Physician Assistants assisting in cardioversions for Atrial Fibrillation in the Cath lab under MD supervision. A nurse preps the patient & the PA simply places the electrodes & the MD is always present. A question arose how to bill for this procedure. Would the MD bill under their NPI in this case stating they provided supervision & were present? Or would the NP bill under their NPI for it instead?

Any insight is appreciated.

 

[thomas7331]

Under CMS rules, physicians cannot bill for services performed 'incident to' in a facility setting. If the physician is only supervising the procedure and not personally performing it, then it cannot be billed with the physician's NPI and would have to be billed by the PA.