1. Brenda Dumont
   Posted 4 months ago #
   

   Is it appropriate to use modifier 51 for an anesthesiologist when he performs multiple procedures?

2. SuperCoder
   Posted 4 months ago #
   

   Billing and Payment for Multiple Anesthesia Procedures
   Physicians bill for the anesthesia services associated with multiple bilateral surgeries by reporting the anesthesia procedure with the highest base unit value with the multiple procedure modifier “-51.” They report the total time for all procedures in the line item with the highest base unit value.
   If the same anesthesia CPT code applies to two or more of the surgical procedures, billers enter the anesthesia code with the “-51” modifier and the number of surgeries to which the modified CPT code applies.
   Payment can be made under the fee schedule for anesthesia services associated with multiple surgical procedures or multiple bilateral procedures. Payment is determined based on the base unit of the anesthesia procedure with the highest base unit value and time units based on the actual anesthesia time of the multiple procedures. See §§40.6-40.7 for a definition and appropriate billing and claims processing instructions for multiple and bilateral surgeries.

   Ref: Pg#9 of https://www.cms.gov/transmittals/downloads/R1324CP.pdf

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