Q Our facility uses a lot of implants for surgical fixation and small-joint reconstruction. These devices increase our overhead for some procedures. Can we obtain reimbursement to offset the implant costs in addition to the cost of the surgical procedure?

A Yes, you can bill for high-cost items, such as joint implants, plates, screws and arrows, that fall outside the global surgical package. Medicare requires that you use HCPCS codes for prosthetic devices; however, the approved list for ASC implant reimbursement is minimal (see "Sample Approved Prosthetic Device Codes" below). For Medicare claims, bill the device in conjunction with a Medicare-approved ASC procedure code.