CPT modifier
Modifier 80: Assistant surgeon
Modifier 80 is a CPT modifier. In plain terms: A physician assisted the main surgeon for the whole procedure.
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- Modifier
- 80
- Type
- CPT (Level I) modifier, maintained by the AMA
- Plain description
- A physician assisted the main surgeon for the whole procedure.
- How it is used
- Check the code's assistant at surgery indicator on the fee schedule. Nonphysician assistants use modifier AS for Medicare.
- Claim form
- CMS-1500 item 24D, up to four modifiers per line. 837P SV101-3 to SV101-6.
The CPT descriptor is AMA copyright and is not shown here. The description above is written by Rivvi. Read the CMS guidance linked above for Medicare's rules.
More than one surgeon
Related modifiers
- 62Two surgeons
- 66Surgical team
- 81Minimum assistant surgeon
- 82Assistant surgeon when no qualified resident was available
- ASPhysician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery
- 79Unrelated procedure in the postoperative period
- 78Unplanned return to the operating room in the postoperative period
- 90Reference (outside) laboratory
Related pages
- All CPT and HCPCS modifiersA to Z list
- CMS-1500 claim formModifiers go in item 24D
- Denial code CO-4Modifier missing or does not fit the code
- Denial code CO-182Modifier invalid on the date of service
- Denial code CO-97Included in another service
- Denial code CO-236Procedure or modifier pair not compatible
- HCPCS Level II code lookup
- Denial and remark codes
Questions
What does modifier 80 mean?
Modifier 80 is a CPT modifier. In plain terms: A physician assisted the main surgeon for the whole procedure.
Is modifier 80 a CPT or a HCPCS modifier?
80 is a CPT (Level I) modifier. The AMA maintains CPT modifiers. Two-character codes with a letter, such as GT or XU, are HCPCS Level II modifiers from CMS.
Where does modifier 80 go on a claim?
On the CMS-1500 it goes in item 24D next to the procedure code. Each line holds up to four modifiers. On an 837P it goes in SV101-3 to SV101-6.
When is modifier 80 used?
Check the code's assistant at surgery indicator on the fee schedule. Nonphysician assistants use modifier AS for Medicare.
What denial comes back when a modifier is wrong?
A missing or mismatched modifier often comes back as CARC 4. A modifier that was not valid on the date of service comes back as CARC 182. A bundling edit the modifier should have bypassed comes back as CARC 97 or 236.