Surgery Assistance Fees

September 1, 2004

What does Medicare pay physicians who assist at a surgery?

Question: What does Medicare pay physicians who assist at a surgery?

Answer: Medicare pays 16 percent of the global for physicians who assist. See page 4 of this transmittal from CMS:

www.cms.hhs.gov/manuals/pm_trans/R1707B3.pdfThis assumes the surgery code is one that allows for assists. The annual Medicare fee schedule spells out which codes allow it.