AS - JE Part B
Modifier AS
Physician Assistant (PA), Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) assistant at surgery services.
Instructions
Append this modifier to appropriate procedure codes when Non-Physician Practitioners (NPPs) are assisting a principal surgeon as an assistant surgeon. The assistant at surgery provides more than ancillary services. NPPs include a CNS, NP and PA.
Correct Use
- The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Indicator/Descriptor lists under column A will confirm if assistant at surgery is allowed.
- 2 = payment restriction for assistants at surgery does not apply to this procedure. Assistant surgeon may be paid).
- NPP, mid-level practitioner or advance practice practitioner (APP)
- Append this modifier only
- NPP must accept assignment
- NPPs are allowed 85% of 16% physician fee allowable or 14% of surgery
Incorrect Use
- Inappropriate for NPPs to use modifiers 80, 81 or 82 (physician only modifiers)
- Modifier 80 (assistant surgeon), 81 (minimum assistant surgeon) or 82 (qualified resident surgeon not available) with physician (MD/DO) assisting at surgery
Resources
- CMS Internet Only Manual (IOM), Publication 100-04, Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 12, Section 20.4.3
- CMS IOM, Publication 100-04, Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 26, Section 10.7
Last Updated $dateUtil.getDate( $modifieddate , "MMM dd , yyyy" , $locale , $tzone )
