Applies to: Doctors, Clinic Supervisors, Surgical Counselors, Front Office Staff
The surgical counselors need to check Allscripts for upcoming appointments at the time surgeries are being scheduled. It is important to determine if any other physician has a scheduled appointment within the time frame of the post-op period along with the need to move non-critical appointments outside of the post-operative period.
This is important as failure to coordinate the post-operative period with the appointments of non-operating physicians, leaves the second physician in the position of having to use the “24” modifier, or not receiving payment. While some appointments may be critically time sensitive, for example a 4 – 6 week anti-VEGF treatment could not be pushed out sixty days, other appointments, i.e. a yearly diabetic DFE, may be able to be reasonably moved out thirty days.
The intention is not to fully eliminate the use of the “24” modifier. This will not be possible.
The idea is to limit its use to only those circumstances in which it is absolutely necessary.
Front desk staff need to ensure that similar protocols are adhered to regarding lasers and other minor procedures not scheduled by the counselors.
The surgical counselors need to check Allscripts for upcoming appointments at the time surgeries are being scheduled. It is important to determine if any other physician has a scheduled appointment within the time frame of the post-op period along with the need to move non-critical appointments outside of the post-operative period.
This is important as failure to coordinate the post-operative period with the appointments of non-operating physicians, leaves the second physician in the position of having to use the “24” modifier, or not receiving payment. While some appointments may be critically time sensitive, for example a 4 – 6 week anti-VEGF treatment could not be pushed out sixty days, other appointments, i.e. a yearly diabetic DFE, may be able to be reasonably moved out thirty days.
The intention is not to fully eliminate the use of the “24” modifier. This will not be possible.
The idea is to limit its use to only those circumstances in which it is absolutely necessary.
Front desk staff need to ensure that similar protocols are adhered to regarding lasers and other minor procedures not scheduled by the counselors.
| policy_protocol_post_operative_periods_and_24_modifiers_2182014.docx |