tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2020 Issue Q2

Bilateral Basics: Do This Before Appending Modifier 50

Tip: Start with the descriptor. When your general surgeon performs a bilateral surgery, don’t jump to conclusions and automatically append modifier 50 (Bilateral procedure) to the procedure code. Read on for some expert guidance about when you should — or shouldn’t — turn to modifier 50. Look at Code Descriptor Some procedure descriptors already allow for bilateral procedures, which means modifier 50 probably is not appropriate. Do this: “Look at the CPT® descriptor for the code to which you are thinking of appending modifier 50,” says Kent Moore, senior strategist for physician payment...

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