Assistant at surgery

What must be documented by both physicians?

re: Assistant at surgery

We bill for both surgeons and physician assistant. The PA does not document anything. The only thing is that when the surgeons dictates the report he makes sure that he states that (PA name ) assisted me through out this procedure. Plus on top portion of the report, it states the surgeon's name and the assistant surgeon's name. We bill with modifier AS on most claims. Some require modifier 80.

re: Assistant at surgery

We bill the same as the other response with one addition. If you are a teaching facility the primary physician must state there was not a qualified resident who was available to assist, but only if that was truly the case and an 82 modifier would be used instead.