Add-on codes and Modifier -62

[Ruth Sheets]

Recently, a student wrote in the following question:

"I believe you told us at one of the webinars that we should use modifier 62 only when the two physicians use the same procedural code. Page 377 of 2012 step-by step medical coding by Buck states:

....If additional procedure(s) (including add-on procedure(s) are performed during the same surgical session, separate code(s) may also be reported without the modifier 62 added.

Appendix A of the 2012 CPT Professional Edition (page 568) states:

.....If additional procedure(s), including add-on procedures, are produced during the same surgical session, separate code(s) may also be reported with modifier 62 added.

Please help.

As always, thank you very much for these webinars."

 

[Ruth Sheets]

Here is the answer to the question, after consulting the local experts:
If the physicians shared the work of the add- on code, then they both use -62.
If only one did the work as described in the add-on code description, then just the one physician reports it without a modifier -62.