AA, QZ, QS: the only modifiers we put on a claim
ClearBilling bills personally performed physician cases (AA), independent CRNA cases (QZ), and monitored anesthesia care (QS). We do not bill medical direction. USA-based, woman-owned, anesthesia only.
How they stack
AA or QZ is the pricing modifier: who did the case. QS is the MAC flag: what kind of anesthetic it was. A MAC case personally performed by an anesthesiologist is AA plus QS. A MAC case by an independent CRNA is QZ plus QS. A general anesthetic personally performed is AA without QS.
What factories get wrong
Defaulting every CRNA to QX. Dropping QS on endoscopy. Coding MAC as general because the CPT crosswalk was lazy. Those errors are why groups leave a 40-specialty mill.
If you need medical direction billed
That is QK / QY / QX, and it is not our work. We will say so on the first call instead of taking the book and improvising.
FAQ
Straight answers for practices comparing anesthesia billing companies.
Is QS a pricing modifier?
No. It reports MAC. AA or QZ still carries who gets paid.
Do you ever bill QK or QX?
No.
Where is this written?
CMS and payer anesthesia modifier lists. We follow current policy for the date of service, not a blog rumor.
Related
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