View Associated Notes
Category 8 - MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES
93718 - Additional Information
Assistance by a participating nurse practitioner at any operation mentioned in an item in Group T8 that includes "(Assist.)" for which the fee does not exceed $651. 30 or at a series or combination of operations mentioned in an item in Group T8 that include "(Assist. )" for which the aggregate fee does not exceed $651.30
Fee: $100.65 Benefit: 75% = $75.50 85% = $85.60
(See para MN.33.1, MN.33.2 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Associated Notes
Category 8 - MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES
MN.33.1
Assistance at Operations - Items 93718 to 93724
Items covering operations which are eligible for benefits for surgical assistance have been identified by the inclusion of the word “Assist.” in the item description. Medicare benefits are not payable for surgical assistance associated with procedures which have not been so identified.
The assistance must be rendered by a participating nurse practitioner.
Where more than one person (whether medical practitioners, participating nurse practitioners or a combination thereof) provides assistance to a surgeon, no additional benefits are payable. Only one benefit is payable irrespective of the number of the number of people assisting.
Assistance at Multiple Operations
Where surgical assistance is provided at two or more operations performed on a patient on the one occasion the multiple operation formula is applied to all the operations to determine the surgeon's fee for Medicare benefits purposes. The multiple-operation formula is then applied to those items at which assistance was rendered and for which Medicare benefits for surgical assistance is payable to determine the abated fee level for assistance. The abated fee is used to determine the appropriate Schedule item covering the surgical assistance (ie either Item 93718 or 93724).
| Multiple Operation Rule – Surgeon | Multiple Operation Rule – Assistant |
| Item A – $300@100% | Item A (Assist.) – $300@100% |
| Item B – $250@50% | Item B (No Assist.) |
| Item C – $200@25% | Item C (Assist.) – $200@50% |
| Item D – $150@25% | Item D (Assist.) – $150@25% |
The derived fee applicable to Item 93719 is calculated on the basis of one-fifth of the abated Schedule fee for the surgery which attracts an assistance benefit.
Surgeons Operating Independently
Where two surgeons operate independently (i.e. neither assists the other or administers the anaesthetic) the procedures they perform are considered as two separate operations, and therefore, where a participating nurse practitioner is engaged by each, or one of the surgeons, benefits for surgical assistance are payable in the same manner as if the surgeons were operating separately.
See TN.9.1 for surgical assistance provided by medical practitioners.
Category 8 - MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES
MN.33.2
Benefits Payable under Item 93718
Medicare benefits are payable under item 93718 for assistance rendered by a participating nurse practitioner at any operation identified by the word "Assist." for which the fee does not exceed the fee threshold specified in the item descriptor, or at a series or combination of operations identified by the word "Assist." for which the aggregate Schedule fee threshold specified in the item descriptor has not been exceeded.
Related Items: 93718
Legend
- Assist - Addition/Deletion of (Assist.)
- Amend - Amended Description
- Anaes - Anaesthetic Values Amended
- Emsn - EMSN Change
- Fee - Fee Amended
- Renum - Item Number Change (renumbered)
- New - New Item
- NewMin - New Item (previous Ministerial Determination)
- Qfe - QFE Change