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how to submit a medicare claim for co management after cataract surgery

by Kennedi Padberg Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

Cataract Co-Management Billing and Coding After surgery, the surgeon submits a claim for the procedure citing the appropriate CPT®code and co-management modifier (-54) on the claim form. This modifier is required to identify the surgical procedure in a co-management scenario.

The co-manager would submit a claim to Medicare with the CPT surgery code 66984 and modifier -55 (e.g., 66984-55). The date of service must be the date of surgery (or the date care was assumed if indicated by your Medicare carrier/contractor).

Full Answer

Will Medicare pay for a second pair of glasses after cataract surgery?

r Submit a claim for with the CPT® surgery code 66984 and co-management modifier -54 (e.g., 66984-54) r Submit a claim for your portion of the post-operative care by submitting a second line item entry on the form for the same surgery procedure code with the modifier -55. Note: For the claim to be accurate, the surgeon needs

Does Medicare cover post-cataract eyewear?

Feb 15, 2022 · You can’t bill for co-management until at least one service has been provided to the patient. However, you don’t have to wait until the end of the global period to submit the claim.For medical billing coders, codes to be aware of in cataract surgery co-management situations include: Office visit: 99203, 99204, 99214, 92004, and 92014

Does Medicare cover a cataract extraction with IOL?

May 11, 2020 · ROI Outcome. Within two months of this two-doctor practice signing up with Fast Pay Health for optometric billing services, Medicare paid more than 96% of the refiled denied claims, and the practice collected more than $26,000. The key financial metric to focus on is to make sure claims are “clean and free from errors” before you submit them.

What does helps pay for for cataract surgery?

Apr 12, 2021 · Submit the surgery with the CPT modifier 55 (postoperative management only) and the laterality HCPCS modifier RT or LT on the detail line. Submit the surgery date (not the date on which the postoperative management was assumed) as the date of service. If surgery was performed bilaterally and is valid for CPT modifier 50, submit the surgery procedure code …

How do I bill a co manager for cataract surgery?

CPT code for cataract surgery is “66984” Modifiers are “55” for co-management, “RT” for right eye or “LT” for left eye, and “79” if it is the 2nd eye within post op period (90 days) of the first eye.

How do you bill for cataract surgery post op care?

If you see the patient after the 22nd day of post-op care then you will bill 68 days at $1.44 per day or $98. If the second eye has surgery following the first eye, the global period fee is calculated the same way.

How do I bill CPT 66984?

IOL insertion, the correct way to code the procedure is by using CPT code 66984 [Extracapsular cataract extraction removal with insertion of intraocular lens prosthesis (1-stage procedure), manual or mechanical technique ( eg, irrigation and aspiration or phacoemulsification)].

Can modifier 54 and 55 be billed together?

Using Modifiers “-54” and “-55” While doing billing the physician must use the same CPT code for global surgery services billed with modifiers 54 or 55. For surgical care only and post-operative care only, the same date of service and surgical code must be reported.Oct 13, 2020

What is the Medicare reimbursement for cataract surgery?

Medicare pays for cataract surgery as long as the doctor agrees that it is medically necessary. The cost of cataract surgery may vary. Medicare usually covers 80% of the surgical costs. People may wish to use Medicare supplement plans, such as Medigap, to cover the remaining 20% of the cost.

How do you bill for post op care only?

• Modifier 55 – Postoperative Management Only o Used to indicate when one physician or other qualified healthcare professional performs the post-operative management only and another physician performs the surgical care, each belonging to a different practice.Apr 19, 2021

Is CPT 66984 covered by Medicare?

Medicare and most other insurance carriers specifically exclude coverage for the surgical correction of refractive errors, including astigmatism. 66984 with 67036. When you know preoperatively that both procedures will be performed, it is appropriate to unbundle by appending modifier –59 to 66984.

What is the difference between CPT 66982 and 66984?

66982: Cataract surgery with insertion of intraocular lens, complex. 66983: Cataract surgery, intracapsular, with insertion of intraocular lens. 66984: Cataract surgery, extracapsular, with insertion of intraocular lens.Feb 1, 2017

What does CPT code 66850 mean?

CPT code 66850 is used when a lensectomy is performed in conjunction with a vitrectomy procedure solely due to CPT instructions. Most retina surgeons and their billers instinctively want to use 66852 because “pars plana approach” is incorporated into the description.

When should modifier 22 be used?

Modifier 22 is used for increased procedural services and demonstrates when a physician has gone above and beyond the typical framework of a particular procedure.

What is modifier 81 used for?

Instructions. Modifier 81 is appended to the procedure code for an assistant surgeon who assists an operating or principal surgeon during part of a procedure. Check the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Indicator/Descriptor Lists. Column A indicates if assistant at surgery is allowed.Feb 13, 2020

Is general anesthesia included in the surgical package?

Any anesthesia or monitoring services performed by the same physician performing the surgical procedure are included in the reimbursement for the surgical procedure(s) itself.

How many cataract surgeries are performed annually?

Every year, more than 3.8 million cataract surgeries are performed by ophthalmologists and postoperative care is often co-managed with referring optometrists. More than 25 million Americans have cataracts, reports the Prevent Blindness “ The Future of Vision ” study.

Does Fast Pay Health process Medicare claims?

Fast Pay Health optometric billing consultants process hundreds of Medicare claims every week. Let’s look at the challenge, solution, and outcome that Fast Pay Health put into action for a two-doctor, one-location Texas-based optometry practice who was struggling with denied Medicare claims for cataract post-op co-management services.

Can you co-manage cataract surgery?

When you co-manage a cataract surgical procedure that was performed by a surgeon, be sure to use the correct modifier. Keep in mind that if the surgeon has not filed their claim, or if they filed without using the correct modifier indicating surgical care only, your co-management claim will be denied.

Does Medicare cover optometry?

Medicare Coverage of Optometry and Co-management Services. Optometry. Medicare considers a doctor of optometry as a physician with respect to all services the optometrist is authorized to perform under state law or regulation. Optometrists are licensed by the state in which they practice, and their scope of optometric practice is determined by ...

What is the scope of practice of an optometrist?

Optometrists are licensed by the state in which they practice, and their scope of optometric practice is determined by a state’s designated governing body for optometry, which varies from one state to another. In addition to adhering to state law scope of practice requirements, services provided by optometrists must be medically reasonable ...

Does Medicare cover eyeglasses?

Medicare will cover one pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses as a prosthetic device furnished after each cataract surgery with insertion of an intraocular lens (IOL). Replacement frames, eyeglass lenses and contact lenses are noncovered.

Does Medicare pay for glasses after cataract surgery?

Medicare will pay for one pair of post-cataract surgery glasses per lifetime per eye after cataract surgery. You also should review any local coverage determinations (LCDs) to find out if there are any local policy stipulations. Additionally, you also may want to call the Durable Medical Equipment Regional Carrier for your area to see if the patient is presently eligible for the glasses. Some LCDs clarify, "If a beneficiary has a cataract extraction with IOL insertion in one eye, subsequently has a cataract extraction with IOL insertion in the other eye, and does not receive eyeglasses or contact lenses between the two surgical procedures, Medicare covers only one pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses after the second surgery. If a beneficiary has a pair of eyeglasses, has a cataract extraction with IOL insertion, and receives only new lenses but not new frames after the surgery, the benefit would not cover new frames at a later date (unless it follows subsequent cataract extraction in the other eye)."

Is DMEPOS a Medicare fee?

All suppliers of Durable Medical Equipment, Orthotics and Prosthetics (DMEPOS), including eyeglasses and contact lenses for postoperative cataract patients, are subject to an enrollment and revalidation fee. The AOA continues to advocate with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services so that doctors who are enrolled in Medicare as physicians should be exempt from this fee.

What is co-management in surgery?

Co-management is the planned transfer of care during the global period from the operating surgeon to another qualified provider when clinically appropriate. The physician or optometrist receiving the patient must be licensed to manage all aspects of the post-operative care, including the ability to diagnose potential complications that may require another operation.

What percentage of surgical fees are paid for post ophthalmic surgery?

The total post-operative care percentage for op hthalmic procedures has been set at 20 percent of the surgical fee allowance. In cases where more than one physician furnishes post-operative services, the payment will be divided between the physicians based on the number of days for which each doctor is responsible for furnishing post-operative care.

Can a co-manager determine when a patient is released?

The decision as to when it is MEDICALLY APPROPRIATE for the patient to be released to the care of the co-manager can only be determined by the surgeon and the patient. The specific date of the transfer of care cannot be made prior to surgery.

How to find out how much a test is?

To find out how much your test, item, or service will cost, talk to your doctor or health care provider. The specific amount you’ll owe may depend on several things, like: 1 Other insurance you may have 2 How much your doctor charges 3 Whether your doctor accepts assignment 4 The type of facility 5 Where you get your test, item, or service

What is Medicare approved amount?

Medicare-Approved Amount. In Original Medicare, this is the amount a doctor or supplier that accepts assignment can be paid. It may be less than the actual amount a doctor or supplier charges. Medicare pays part of this amount and you’re responsible for the difference.

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