09/11/12 Ask-the-Contractor Teleconference (ACT ... - WPS Medicare

Dr. Boren:
Natalie Murphy:
Dr. Boren:
Natalie Murphy:
Dr. Boren:
Natalie Murphy:
Dr. Boren:
Natalie Murphy:
A 79 is for return to surgery.
http://www.wpsmedicare.com
I’m sorry, I mean a 24 modifier.
No. What you’re describing is taking care of the patient in the typical
postoperative care.
So we shouldn’t be…
Billing, no.
Because that’s interrogation of the device in person and everyday, we see
them until they get off the machine in order to get a heart transplant.
That’s right. I believe that unless CMS gives you a zero global period, I mean,
typically, when someone has a procedure done in the hospital, it is all the
postoperative care in the hospital There are few exceptions like, a
cauterization has a zero global period. But see, I can’t remember off the top
of my head what the VAD CPT code is.
It’s 93750 and Medicare has paid. Say we don’t do a procedure and we just
insert the VAD machine and we see them daily, there’s no global for that
93750. So in that case, we do bill.
Dr. Boren: 937…
Natalie Murphy:
Dr. Boren:
Natalie Murphy:
Dr. Boren:
Natalie Murphy:
Dr. Boren:
Natalie Murphy:
Dr. Boren:
Natalie Murphy:
Dr. Boren:
Natalie Murphy:
Dr. Boren:
…50.
No, but that’s not putting the VAD.
No, we’ve already done that and everyday after we charge.
What’s the CPT code for putting in a VAD It should be a 3 something.
It is the 33979 – or a 33975, 76, 79. It depends on what type, bilateral or, you
know.
33979. OK, that has a xxx global period. I’m trying to find the CMS – xxx
global concept does not apply …
Right.
I have never heard of anyone billing.
We do it everyday, yes.
I see.
We keep them on the machine.
That is very interesting.
7