By Alex Munoz, CPC, NCICS
Used to describe alterations to CPT code Full list, CPT, Appendix A
Altered (i.e., more or less) Bilateral Multiple Only portions of service (i.e., professional service only) More than one surgeon Unusual service
Use of anesthesia where no anesthesia or local would be the norm Example: Highly agitated senile patient Only used with anesthesia codes Written report with submission of modifier
E/M Service not related to surgery is separately billable Use -24 on E/M code only If E/M provided during post-op global period, no separate payment for E/M related to surgical procedure Example: Patient is in global period for hip surgery and is now seen for a fractured collarbone
Documentation must support service Example: Patient seen for sinus congestion, physician performs H&P, prescribes decongestant, notes lesion on back, and removes Code: Procedure + E/M-25 Example: A patient seen on consultation by pain management and subsequent to rendering an opinion was given a nerve injection. Modifier -25 is placed on E/M code
Professional component (physician, -26) Technical component (technician + equipment, -TC) Example: Radiologist reviews x-rays (-26) taken by supervised technician (-TC)
Mandated by payer, workers’ comp, or official body Not request of patient, patient’s family, or another physician Example: Workers’ Comp requests examination of person currently receiving disability benefits
Bilateral Example: Procedure on hands Caution: Some codes describe bilateral procedures; in these cases do not apply modifier -50
Same Procedure, Different Sites Example: Multiple lacerations repaired Multiple Operation(s), Same Operative Session Procedure Performed Multiple Times Example: Trigger point injections (20552)
Cont.. List most resource intense first (highest RVU value) Next other procedure(s) (unless code is - 51 exempt or an add-on code) Usual payment: 1 st procedure 100%, 2 nd 50%, 3 rd 25% Medicare: 1 st procedure paid 100%, 2 nd –5 th paid 50%, more than 5, priced manually
Service reduced from code description Physician directed reduction Documentation substantiates reduction Not for patients unable to pay fee Example: Lip shave (40500) but advancement flap not performed = Submit full charge, payer will adjust
E/M, Medicine, ophthalmologic services Medicare: Only for pre-op period of major surgery (day before or day of) 90 day global
Both function as co-surgeons (equals) Usually different specialties Each surgeon reports same surgery code appending -62 Each surgeon dictates his/her portion of procedure
Kilogram: 2.2 lb (4 kg = 8.8 lb) Small size increases complexity Use with all Surgery section codes except Integumentary and those exempt by parenthetical notes
Note: “Same Physician” Used to indicate necessary service, not typographical error Example: X-rays before and after fracture repair Aerosol treatment for an asthma attack repeated in 90 minutes ( )
Note: “Another Physician” Performed by one physician, repeated by another physician Submitted with written report to establish medical necessity
For complication of first procedure Example: Patient has outpatient procedure in morning, was returned to operating room in afternoon with severe hemorrhage Indicates not typographical error Does not change global period time
Reimbursed at 15–30% Payers identify procedures for which they reimburse assistant -81 Minimum Assistant Surgeon Services at a level less than that described in - 80 (Assistant Surgeon) Reimbursed at 10%, if at all
Used when service needs more than one modifier but payer only allows for one modifier with each code
-RT is a Modifier for: the Right side of body -LT is a Modifier for: the Left side of body -E1: Upper Left eye lid -E2: Lower Left eye lid -E3: Upper Right eye lid -E4: Lower Right eye lid
-FA: Left hand, thumb -F1: Left hand, second digit -F2: Left hand, third digit -F3: Left hand, fourth digit -F4: Left hand, fifth digit
-TA: Left foot, great toe -T1: Left foot, second digit -T2: Left foot, third digit -T3: Left foot, fourth digit -T4: Left foot, fifth digit
CMS-1500 (08/05) has places for multiple modifiers