Name of Manual - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

Assistant Surgeons
(continued)
Assist at surgery using robotics
Coding Policies and Guidelines (Surgical Services)
When a robot is used in conjunction with a surgery, an assist-atsurgery
service may be billed for a qualified practitioner (MD,
RNFA, NP, or PA) assisting by operating the machine (robot). The
appropriate surgical code and modifier would be billed. However,
separately billed charges for surgical robotics (S2900) will not be
allowed.
Co-Surgeons Co-surgery services are identified by use of the CPT modifier–62.
Co-surgery involves a surgical procedure report with a single
procedure code that requires two surgeons of different specialties
or a surgical procedure that involves two surgeons performing
parts of the procedure simultaneously. The additional surgeon is
not acting as an assistant at surgery (modifier –80 or –AS) or as
part of a surgical team (modifier –66).
Documentation must support the use of the –62 modifier. An
operative report(s) is required and will be requested if not
submitted.
Claims must be coordinated by the surgeons prior to filing their
claims. One operative report may be used, as long as both
surgeons’ responsibilities are identified. The following criteria
must be met:
Co-surgery services should be submitted using the appropriate
CPT surgical procedure code and the modifier -62. If more
than one modifier is being reported, list –62 first.
Both providers billing the -62 modifier should normally be
surgeons of different specialties. Examples would include
Gynecology/Urology, General Surgery/ENT, etc.
It must be medically necessary and an accepted standard of
care to have two surgeons of different specialties perform the
surgery.
Each surgeon must perform a distinct portion of the surgery.
Blue Cross follows Medicare’s guidelines regarding which
procedures will be reimbursed for co-surgery services. The
MPFSDB indicators are:
0= Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
1= Co-surgeons may be paid if supporting documentation
is supplied to establish medical necessity.
2= Co-surgeons permitted.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Provider Policy and Procedure Manual (03/19/12)
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