MAR 10, 2023
Assistant to Surgery Modifier
Our surgeon performed complex cataract surgery with a retina surgeon. Our practice management billing software does not accept modifier -62 with CPT 66982. Can we bill the surgery with modifier 62?
Answer:CPT 66982 does not allow using modifier -62, co-surgeons.
There are several ways to verify this information:
- Refer to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule database (MPFSDB) from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) website at . CPT 66982 is listed with an indicator of 1.
- Indicator of 0 indicates co-surgeons are not permitted for this procedure.
- Indicator of 1 indicates co-surgeons could be paid with supporting documentation accompanying the claim to establish medical necessity of two surgeons for the procedure.
- See the applicable list of CPT codes from the Eye and Ocular Adnexa section published in the Fundamentals of Ophthalmic Coding or Retina Coding Complete Coding Reference Guide.
- Look at the fee schedule on the payer's site.
- Look at coding guidance in Academy’s Coding Coach.