DEC 15, 2016
Visual Field Interpretations from Outside the Practice
Question: Our physicians interpret visual field studies performed outside our office. When we bill for the interpretation, what should we put as the date of service: the date the study was done or the date of interpretation?
Answer: Submit the date of interpretation.
Medicare recognizes the -TC (technical) and -26 (professional) modifiers, so when billing a Medicare patient, append modifier -26 for the date of the interpretation. The practice that performed the test will append -TC.
For payers that do not recognize these modifiers, only one physician can be reimbursed. The physicians should determine this prior to performing the tests.