CPT Modifier 82
Published 07/16/2020
Description
Submit CPT modifier 82 to identify services of assistant surgeon (when qualified resident surgeon not available).
Guidelines and Instructions
Guidelines and Instructions
- The unavailability of a qualified resident surgeon is a prerequisite for submitting CPT modifier 82 with a surgical procedure code
- This modifier may only be submitted with surgery codes
- Supporting documentation describing the medical necessity for an assistant must be submitted with the claim for services that have Asst Surg Indicator 0 in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Database (MPFSDB)
- In addition, documentation to support one of the following situations is required in the medical record when the surgery is performed in a teaching hospital:
- A statement that no qualified resident was available to perform the service
- A statement indicating that exceptional medical circumstances exist
- A statement indicating the primary surgeon has an across the board policy of never involving residents in the preoperative, operative or postoperative care of his/her patients
To determine whether the services of an assistant surgeon may be submitted to Medicare with CPT modifier 82, refer to the MPFSDB:
- Access the database directly from the CMS website
- Select Physician Fee Schedule Search from the bottom of the Web page
- Screen defaults to current year. Under Type of Information, select Payment Policy Indicators.
- Choose a single procedure code, multiple procedure codes or a range of codes, then enter the appropriate code(s)
- Select modifier (or select "all modifiers")
- Refer to the column heading "Asst Surg"
- Indicator 0 corresponds to payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure. Supporting documentation describing the medical necessity for an assistant must be submitted with the claim.
- Indicator 1 corresponds to statutory payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure. Assistants at surgery will not be paid.
- Indicator 2 corresponds to payment restriction for assistants at surgery does not apply to this procedure. Assistants at surgery may be paid.
- Indicator 9 corresponds to concept does not apply (the most likely explanation is that the procedure is not a surgery)