CMS Pub. 100-04, ch. 14, § 40.5

When more than one surgical procedure is performed in the same operative session,

special payment rules apply, even if the procedures have the same HCPCS code.

When the ASC performs multiple surgical procedures in the same operative session that

are subject to the multiple procedure discount, contractors pay 100 percent of the highest

paying surgical procedure on the claim, plus 50 percent of the applicable payment rate(s)

for the other ASC covered surgical procedures subject to the multiple procedure discount

that are furnished in the same session. The OPPS/ASC final rule for the relevant

payment year specifies whether or not a surgical procedure is subject to multiple

procedure discounting for that year. Final payment is subject to the usual copayment and

deductible provisions.

The multiple procedure payment reduction is the last pricing routine applied to applicable

ASC procedure codes. In determining the ranking of procedures for application of the

multiple procedure reduction, contractors shall use the lower of the billed charge or the

ASC payment amount. The ASC surgical services billed with modifier -73 and -52 shall

not be subjected to further pricing reductions. (i.e., the multiple procedure price reduction

rules do not apply). Payment for an ASC surgical procedure billed with modifier -74

may be subject to the multiple procedure discount if that surgical procedure is subject to

the multiple procedure discount.

A procedure performed bilaterally in one operative session is reported as two procedures,

either as a single unit on two separate lines or with “2” in the units field on one claim

line. The multiple procedure reduction of 50 percent applies to all bilateral procedures

subject to multiple procedure discounting. For example, if lavage by cannulation;

maxillary sinus (antrum puncture by natural ostium) (CPT code 31020) is performed

bilaterally in one operative session, report 31020 on two separate lines or with “2” in the

units field. Depending on whether the claim includes other services to which the multiple

procedure discount applies, the contractor applies the multiple procedure reduction of 50

percent to the payment for at least one of the CPT code 31020 payment rates.