In this blog post, we take a closer look at medical coding modifiers — groups of numbers and letters that can make a big difference to the success of your practice.
What Are Medical Coding Modifiers?
In order to understand what medical coding modifiers are, first we have to talk about medical codes.
Medical codes are codes used to identify medical services and procedures provided by healthcare professionals.
Medical coding modifiers are groups of numbers and/or letters appended to medical codes to provide additional information about the procedure or service without altering the meaning of the code.
Some situations that warrant the use of a medical coding modifier include:
- More than one provider performed the service/procedure.
- More than one location was involved.
- The service/procedure was reduced or increased compared to what the code requires.
- More than one service/procedure was performed on the same patient.
To give you an idea of how medical coding modifiers work in real life, here are a couple of common CPT® (CPT is a trademark that stands for Current Procedural Terminology) modifiers:
- 25: An evaluation and management service was provided on the same day of the procedure or other service.
- 26: Represents the professional component of a procedure or service.
The Importance of Medical Coding Modifiers
The basic goal of medical coding modifiers is to increase accuracy. This, in turn, results in a smooth medical billing process.
Using the right medical coding modifiers is important because modifiers have a direct impact on reimbursement for the procedures or services performed by healthcare professionals.
Simply put, errors in medical coding modifiers lead to denied claims, payment delays, increased workload to your administrative staff and, ultimately, loss of revenue.
While a delayed reimbursement may not seem much, the cumulative effect of poor coding can severely hamper your revenue cycle.
That’s why it’s critical for providers to be deeply familiar with medical coding modifiers or to take advantage of the services of an expert medical billing team.
Practice IQ offers a full suite of services to improve the efficiency and profitability of your practice. Contact us today to get started.
Practice IQ: Accurate Medical Billing Services in California
Looking for dependable medical billing services? At Practice IQ, we have made it our mission to take the administrative burden of medical billing off your hands so you can focus on what you do best.
We are located in Pomona, California, and serve clients all over the Golden State. Contact us today by telephone (424-433-5704) or email (piqusinfo@practiceiqusa.com), or fill out the contact form to learn more about our services.