Wiki Timeliness of Addendums

[TnRushFan]

Does anyone know how long after the operation can the surgeon make an addendum to the operative note and it still be legal to bill?
I have a surgeon who operated on a patients left foot but documented right foot...he has added an addendum correcting the laterality. It has not yet been billed but is more than 30 days past the date of service [March DOS].

My colleague and I have a difference of opinion whether it is fraudulent / legal to bill?
Any thoughts or references are much appreciated...

 

[erjones147]

Based on what Michael Miscoe and other medicolegal experts told me at the 2017 national conference, addendums should be handled with care. Everyone makes mistakes such as typos, but to mess up laterality and then only correct it 30 days later is a big red flag for me

Personally, I would not bill it unless a laterality addendum were done same day, but I have the authority to decide what I code and bill where I work, so your mileage may vary