Op Note Documentation Tips Every Surgeon Can Use
May 1, 2019
You’ve submitted, in a timely manner, correct Current Procedural Terminology® (CPT) codes to the insurance company for the procedure you performed. The payor’s explanation of benefits (EOB) or electronic remittance advice (ERA) shows a payment of $0! Now what? Typically, you’d send in the operative note, showing the description of the procedure you performed.
The operative note is not only a medico-legal and patient care document. It’s usually the only information a payor wants when there is a dispute about your reimbursement.
So let’s walk through some key elements of the operative report documentation.
Pre-operative and Post-operative Diagnoses
All relevant pre- and post-operative diagnoses should be documented, including underlying co-morbid conditions that you consider relevant for the procedure performed. If a pre-op diagnosis is no longer relevant, or changes intra-operatively, then state this in the post-operative diagnosis statement.
For example, if the tumor or lesion pathology is not known pre-operatively, it is acceptable to state “unknown” in the pre-op diagnosis. If the frozen section comes back positive for a malignancy, this could be stated in the post-op diagnosis area.
Surgeon
The primary surgeon for the procedure is listed as the surgeon. In the academic environment, this is the attending surgeon for the procedure.
Assistant Surgeon vs. Co-Surgeon vs. Assistant at Surgery
Not crystal clear on the difference? Here are some tips that describe the different surgical roles typically seen in a procedure.
Assistant Surgeon |
Co-Surgeon |
Assistant at Surgery |
-Assists in the primary procedure as a “skilled extra pair of hands.”-Has no pre-op responsibility.-Does not dictate an operative note.-Not primarily responsible for post-op care.-Clinical necessity for the billable assistant surgeon and role during the procedure is documented in the operative note by primary surgeon.-Remember to document the teaching physician attestation statement when a faculty assistant surgeon is also being billed.-Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) or 82 (Assistant Surgeon (when qualified resident surgeon not available) is used.–Example: Your partner General Surgeon assists you with a total thyroidectomy. You report 60240 for the total thyroidectomy and your partner reports 60240 with modifier 80 (60240-80). |
-Always documents a separate operative note for his/her portion of the procedure.-Has pre-op and post-op responsibility.-Brings different expertise to the table – Medicare and many payors require the co-surgeon to be of a different specialty (e.g., General Surgery and Neurosurgery).-Directs a portion of the primary procedure – meaning the same CPT code is reported by both the primary surgeon and the co-surgery appended with modifier 62 (Two Surgeons).–Example: The General Surgeon places the distal catheter, via laparoscopic technique, for a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt while the Neurosurgeon places the proximal catheter and valve. Both surgeons report the VP shunt code, 62223 with modifier 62 (62223-62). |
-Assists in the primary procedure as a “skilled extra pair of hands.”-Has no pre-op or post-op responsibility.-Does not dictate an operative note.-Clinical necessity for the billable assistant at surgery and role during the procedure is documented in the operative note by primary surgeon.-Modifier AS (Physician Assistant, Nurse Practitioner, or Clinical Nurse Specialist Services for Assistant at Surgery) is typically used, though some payors may require a different modifier.–Example: Your Physician Assistant assists you with repair of a strangulated inguinal hernia repair on an adult. The primary surgeon reports 49507 and the PA reports 49507 appended with modifier AS (49507-AS). |
Procedure(s) Performed
The procedures performed are listed in this area of the operative note, which is typically on the top half of the first page. We recommend using CPT terminology as much as possible, but not including codes in the operative note. Why? Oftentimes, the codes documented in the operative note are not accurate.
It becomes a compliance issue when the codes in the operative report do not match the codes billed on the CMS 1500 claim form. Medicare’s General Principles of Medical Record Documentation state the CPT and ICD-10-CM codes reported on the health insurance claim form or billing statement should be supported by the documentation in the medical record. When a CPT code is documented in the operative report but not billed the CPT code billed is not “supported by the documentation in the medical record” as Medicare requires.
Indications for Surgery
This short paragraph, a couple of sentences, is very important as it provides the clinical necessity for the procedure being performed. It is also important to state any previous, related surgery on the same or different structure/wound, why patient is being brought back to the OR, or planned future surgery, as these are clues that coders use to support specific modifiers.
For example, a patient may require stages, of surgery to reconstruct an open wound which would warrant use of modifier 58 (Staged or Related Procedure or Service by the Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional During the Postoperative Period). Stating clearly that the staged procedures are prospectively planned, in this case, would tell the coder and payor that modifier 58 is warranted and the full allowable should be paid. All too often, when the planned nature of multiple procedures is not documented, a modifier 78 (Unplanned Return to the Operating/Procedure Room by the Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional Following Initial Procedure for a Related Procedure During the Postoperative Period) is used, which generally results in a payment reduction.
Complexity
This separate paragraph is a must if modifier 22 (Increased Procedural Services) will be used to obtain additional payment. This information should summarize the added complexity that will be in the subsequent details documented in the operative note. Don’t expect a payor to wade through the details of the operative note to try to figure out whether to pay you more. Make it easy for the payor to “feel your pain” of the procedure in a Complexity, or Findings at Surgery, paragraph.
Details or Description of Procedure
This is typically the lengthiest area of the operative note that describes the procedure(s) performed in great detail. Documentation should include, but not be limited to, induction of anesthesia, patient positioning, set-up and use of special equipment (e.g., stereotactic navigation, robot), specific brand name of any implant(s), which surgeon did what when more than one surgeon is involved, etc.
The details in this section of the operative note should support the procedures listed in the aforementioned Procedure(s) Performed area, which should also support the CPT code(s) reported for the procedure(s).
Author - Kim Pollock, RN, MBA, CPC
Kim is a nationally recognized coding expert. Her energetic and engaging teaching style makes her a sought-after educator, trainer and speaker. Her nursing background provides her with the ability to understand both the clinical and coding attributes of a procedure. She is an expert in analyzing chart documentation and in reengineering practices to enhance the reimbursement process.
PREVIOUS KZA BLOGS