Wiki Split Care

loftuskr

Contributor
Messages
13
Location
Springville, NY
Best answers
0
I want to double check for split care billing. We are an Ophthalmology office that is splitting surgery care with a local optometrist. When billing for the cataract surgery we should bill with a 54 modifier while the optometrist bills with a modifier 55 for post op care. Is this correct?
 
That seems correct. This is from the Medicare claims processing manual Section 40.2 A 3
Physicians Who Furnish Part of a Global Surgical Package
Where physicians agree on the transfer of care during the global period, the following modifiers are used:
• “-54” for surgical care only; or
• “-55” for postoperative management only.
Both the bill for the surgical care only and the bill for the postoperative care only, will contain the same date of service and the same surgical procedure code, with the services distinguished by the use of the appropriate modifier. Providers need not specify on the claim that care has been transferred. However, the date on which care was relinquished or assumed, as applicable, must be shown on the claim. This should be indicated in the remarks field/free text segment on the claim form/format. Both the surgeon and the physician providing the postoperative care must keep a copy of the written transfer agreement in the beneficiary’s medical record. Where a transfer of postoperative care occurs, the receiving physician cannot bill for any part of the global services until he/she has provided at least one service. Once the physician has seen the patient, that physician may bill for the period beginning with the date on which he/she assumes care of the patient.
EXCEPTIONS:
• Where a transfer of care does not occur, occasional post-discharge services of a physician other than the surgeon are reported by the appropriate evaluation and management code. No modifiers are necessary on the claim.
• If the transfer of care occurs immediately after surgery, the physician other than the surgeon who provides the in-hospital postoperative care bills using subsequent hospital care codes for the inpatient hospital care and the surgical code with the “-55” modifier for the post-discharge care. The surgeon bills the surgery code with the “-54” modifier.
• Physicians who provide follow-up services for minor procedures performed in emergency departments bill the appropriate level of office visit code. The physician who performs the emergency room service bills for the surgical procedure without a modifier.
• If the services of a physician other than the surgeon are required during a postoperative period for an underlying condition or medical complication, the other physician reports the appropriate evaluation and management code. No modifiers are necessary on the claim. An example is a cardiologist who manages underlying cardiovascular conditions of a patient.
 
Top