General Surgery
Multiple Surgeons, Different Procedures

Question:

Do I use modifier 66 (team surgery) when our General surgeon is operating on a child during the same session as a plastic surgeon doing a cleft palate repair or a urologist performing a urologic procedure such as a circumcision?

Answer:

No, team surgery (modifier 66) occurs when multiple surgeons are performing multiple parts of the same procedure code. In your scenarios, each surgeon submits his/her own claim identifying only the surgical procedure s/he performed. Indicate in the operative note the presence of the other surgeon and that they will dictate their procedure independently.