MODIFIER EXAMPLES

1: A physician providing diagnostic or therapeutic radiology services, ultrasound, or nuclear medicine services in a hospital would use modifier -26 to report the professional component, as follows:

 73090-26 = Professional component only for an x-ray of the forearm 

2: Two surgeons, usually with different skills, may be required to manage a specific surgical problem. The modifier -62 would be applicable. Modifier -62 would be appropriate only when both surgeons are reporting the same code number and descriptor. For instance, a neurological surgeon and an otolaryngologist are working as cosurgeons in performing transsphenoidal excision of a pituitary neoplasm. The first surgeon would report: 

61548-62 = Hypophysectomy or excision of pituitary tumor, transnasal or transseptal approach, nonstereotactic + two surgeons modifier AND the second surgeon would report: 

61548-62 = Hypophysectomy or excision of pituitary tumor, transnasal or transseptal approach, nonstereotactic + two surgeons modifier 

ANESTHESIA GROUND RULES

GENERAL: All anesthesia values are determined by taking the BASIC UNIT VALUE, which is related to the complexity of the service, and adding MODIFYING UNITS (if any), and TIME UNITS. The fee for a particular procedure or service in this section is determined by multiplying the listed "Basic Unit Value" by the conversion factor that is applicable to this section. . 

The values contained within this section apply when the anesthesia care is provided by or under the medical supervision of qualified physician. This anesthesia care may include but is not limited to general, regional, monitored anesthesia care, supplementation of local anesthesia, or other supportive services in order to afford the patient the anesthesia care deemed optimal. For anesthesia care provided by nurse anesthetists, billing for independent unsupervised services, payment will be limited to 85% of the maximum allowable fee associated with the CPT code submitted. 

BASIC UNIT VALUE: A Basic Unit Value is listed for anesthetic management of most surgical procedures. This includes the value of all usual anesthesia services except the time actually spent in anesthesia care and any modifiers. The usual anesthesia services included in the Basic Unit Value include usual preoperative and post-operative visits, the administration of fluids and/ or blood products incident to the anesthesia care and interpretation of non-invasive monitoring (ECG, temperature, blood pressure, oximetry, capnography, and mass spectrometry). Placement of arterial, central venous and pulmonary artery catheters and use of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) are not included in the basic unit value. 

A service that is rarely provided, unusual, variable, or new may require a special report in determining medical appropriateness of the service. 

When multiple surgical procedures are performed during a single anesthetic administration, only the anesthesia code with the highest basic unit value is reported. (The time reported is the combined total for all procedures.) Add-on codes are an exception to this policy. They are listed in addition to the code for the primary procedure. 

When it is necessary to have a second attending anesthesiologist assist with the preparation and conduct of the anesthesia, these circumstances should be substantiated "By Special Report." Such services shall have a Basic Unit Value of 5.0 Units plus Time Units. 

Any procedure around the head, neck, or shoulder girdle, requiring field avoidance, or any procedure requiring a position other than supine or lithotomy, has a minimum Basic Unit Value of 5.0 regardless of any lesser Basic Unit Value assigned to such procedure in the body of the Relative Value Guide.