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surgical arthroscopy may be performed to treat diseased or damaged structures of the knee joint, such as a torn meniscus, damaged patella and inflamed or damaged synovium. CPT codes 29866 through 29887 are used to report a knee replacement. Modifiers: Strubberg reminds, It is appropriate to use modifier -RT (right side) or -LT (left side) when coding 27447. If the knee replacement is bilateral, use modifier -50 (bilateral procedure) and double the normal fee. Many carriers will reimburse only the bilateral procedure at 150 percent of the single one.
A CRNA (with medical direction by the surgeon) provided general anesthesia services for a controlled diabetic patient who underwent total wrist replacement.
At the conclusion of the surgical procedure, the CRNA inserted an epidural catheter to provide continuous postoperative analgesia for pain management. The CRNA monitored the patient's pain management on the day after surgery. The AA modifier is used for all payers on claims when the anesthesiologist worked the case alone. The AA modifier is exclusive to anesthesia claims. Some others frequently used are: QY = Anesthesia worked with a CRNA.
QX = CRNA worked with an anesthesiologist.
.01832-P2-QX 01996 01996