tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2004 Issue 8

Are You Reporting Reduced Services Correctly?

Knowing why the physician halted the procedure matters for modifiers -52/-53 When a surgeon provides a less-than-total service, either by choice or necessity, you can quickly decide between modifiers -52 and -53 to describe the situation by asking yourself, "Why did the physician stop the procedure?"If Planned or Electively Reduced,Choose -52 When 1) the surgeon plans or expects a reduction in the service, or 2) the surgeon electively cancels the procedure prior to completion, you should append modifier -52 to the appropriate CPT code. Modifier -52 (Reduced services) -- Under certain circumstances a service or procedure is...

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