Billing an Assist

September 1, 2005

Can we bill for an orthopedic-certified technologist as an assistant surgeon instead of a medical doctor, if the technologist assists in surgery?

Question: Can we bill for an orthopedic-certified technologist as an assistant surgeon instead of a medical doctor, if the technologist assists in surgery?

Answer: To determine when you can bill for an assistant, you'll first want to check how your state law defines her scope of practice. If she is acting within the scope of her license, your next step is to contact your carriers and ask them about their coverage, how to bill it, and the reimbursement rate.