Health Information Management

Q&A: Should we hard code modifier -PO?

APCs Insider, August 7, 2015

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Q: Our business office wants us to start using modifier -PO (services, procedures, and/or surgeries furnished at off-campus, provider-based outpatient departments) for services that are provided in some of our outpatient departments, but not all. We want to hard code this to our charge description master but are not sure why some services will get this modifier and some won’t.
 
A: Modifier -PO is a new modifier as of January 2015. Reporting the modifier is voluntary for 2015, but its use becomes mandatory January 1, 2016. Getting the process worked out now is preferable to waiting until the last minute.
 
CMS created the modifier to reflect outpatient hospital items and services that are furnished in an off-campus, provider-based department of a hospital. This modifier is limited to services provided at these locations to specifically identify them. It is not to be used for services provided at remote locations of a hospital, satellite facilities of a hospital, or services furnished in an emergency department. It is for use only for services provided in an off-campus, provider-based department.
 
For more information on the definitions of campus and remote locations of a hospital, see 42 CFR 413.65(a)(2) and for definition of satellite facilities of a hospital, see 42 CFR 412.22(h).
 
Editor’s note: Denise Williams, RN, CPC-H, seniorvice president of revenue integrity services at Health Revenue Assurance Associates, Inc., in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, answered this question.

 



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