AMA CPT® Assistant - 1998 Issue 8 (August)
Modifier -26, with Cardiac Catheter (Q&A) (August 1998)
August 1998 page 10d Coding Consultation Modifier -26, with Cardiac Catheter (Q&A) Question My doctor did a left and right heart cardiac catheterization. We billed without use of the -26 modifier, since the physician did the work. The third-party payor says we should use the -26; who is correct? AMA Comment If hospital equipment is used for the catheterization, then the -26 modifier should be appended to the codes reported for the catheterization. In addition to being used to identify performance of only the interpretation of a procedure, the -26 is also used to identify the use of...
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Article Overview
This article presents an AMA Coding Consultation question and comment about billing for cardiac catheterization services and the circumstances in which modifier -26 is discussed. It is relevant to professional coders, hospital billing staff, and reimbursement teams who need to understand how the article frames third-party payer questions and equipment-related billing context. The piece is brief and centered on CPT guidance from an August 1998 issue of CPT Assistant.
Why This Topic Matters
It helps readers locate a specific AMA discussion about catheterization billing and understand that the article addresses a modifier question tied to service reporting context.
What You Will Learn
- The billing context discussed in the Q&A.
- How the AMA frames the modifier question.
- The general relationship between catheterization services and equipment-related reporting context.
- The type of coding consultation guidance provided in the article.
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Hospital billing staff
- Revenue cycle professionals
- Compliance staff
- Cardiology practice administrators
Modifiers Discussed
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