tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert - 2009 Issue 7

READER QUESTIONS : Use Q6 When 'Sub' Treats Medicare Patient

Question: One of our ED physicians went on maternity leave, and we hired a substitute to fill in for her. Yesterday, the substitute physician performed simple incision and drainage (I & D) on a carbuncle on a Medicare patients lower back. How do I code for this? Washington, D.C. Subscriber Answer: Medicare refers to this type of substitute physician as locum tenens; you might employ one if an ED physician takes an extended leave of absence. Remember to append modifier Q6 (Service furnished by a locum tenens physician) to any services the substitute physician provides to Medicare patients...

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