tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2001 Issue 12

Reader Question: Tourniquet Time and Modifier -22

Question: We did a below-knee amputation on a patient. The operative report states that the total tourniquet time was 1 hour and 40 minutes. Would this justify a modifier or is this considered normal?North Carolina Subscriber  Answer: Without knowing all the circumstances in this case, it is difficult to give a definitive answer. The only modifier that might apply is modifier -22 (unusual procedural services). But, it seems unlikely that modifier -22 could be appropriately appended. When surgeons use a tourniquet to perform an amputation, tourniquet time is recorded as a matter of course for liability purposes...

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