MAR 11, 2024
Are Co-Surgeons Allowed for Concomitant Cataract Surgery and iStent?
On a recent patient visit, our specialist inserted an iStent. Then a surgeon from another practice performed the cataract surgery. The descriptor for CPT code 0671T specifies “insertion of anterior segment aqueous drainage device into the trabecular meshwork, without concomitant cataract removal, one or more” which does not reflect the patient's encounter. How should we code this case?Answer: According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), co-surgery is not allowed for CPT code 66989 and 66991. In the CMS physician fee schedule, an indicator of 0 in the column for co-surgery indicates co-surgeons are not permitted for these codes. These procedures are not billed separately when performed in the same surgical session, even when performed by different surgeons.
Find additional information on co-surgeons in
Fundamentals of Ophthalmic Coding.