Modifiers Used with Surgical Procedures (Fall 1992)

Why This Topic Matters

Accurate modifier reporting affects how surgical services are represented to payers and how complex or unusual circumstances are communicated in claims and documentation. The article helps readers recognize the scope of modifier use in surgery and distinguish it from broader code-selection issues.

Article Sections

1. Coding Commentary

   Introduces the article’s focus on surgical modifiers and the CPT 1992 context in which they are discussed. It also frames how the material is organized and how the modifiers are presented.

2. Modifier -20

   Discusses one surgical modifier and the general circumstances under which it is described in the article. The section includes broad references to technique-based reporting and related CPT context.

3. Modifier -22

   Covers a modifier used for services that differ from the usual procedure in a more extensive way. The section references general documentation considerations and a non-specific surgical example.

4. Modifier -23

   Addresses a modifier tied to atypical anesthesia circumstances in surgery. It includes general discussion of when the modifier is or is not described as applicable within CPT examples.

5. Modifier -26

   Explains a modifier related to separately reported physician services within a procedure. The section mentions CPT examples involving interpretation and technical versus professional components.

6. Modifier -47

   Describes a modifier associated with anesthesia provided by the surgeon in a surgical context. The section includes general examples and notes related to anesthesia procedure ranges.

7. Modifier -50

   Reviews bilateral procedure reporting in a surgical setting. The section includes a CPT example and references a related article on the same topic.

8. Modifier -51

   Discusses reporting multiple procedures performed in the same session. The section also contrasts standard multiple-procedure reporting with add-on code situations.

9. Modifier -52

   Covers partially reduced or incompletely performed services. The section includes general examples of reduced procedural reporting and documentation references.

10. Modifiers -54, -55, -56

    Explains how surgical, postoperative, and preoperative components are discussed separately in the article. The section includes broader global-package context and payer-reporting considerations.

11. Modifier -62

    Describes reporting for a procedure involving two surgeons. The section includes a general CPT example and discusses documentation expectations for each physician.

12. Modifier -66

    Covers surgical team reporting in complex procedures. The section includes discussion of team-based participation and how the article distinguishes this from assistant-surgeon scenarios.

13. Modifiers -76, -77, -78, -79

    Reviews repeat, related, and unrelated procedure situations during postoperative periods. The section includes general CPT-based examples and documentation themes.

14. Modifier -80

    Addresses assistant surgeon reporting in surgical procedures. The section includes a general example of separate reporting by the operating surgeon and assistant surgeon.

15. Modifier -81

    Discusses a form of assistant surgeon reporting involving limited assistance. The section frames the modifier in relation to the extent and duration of assistance.

16. Modifier -82

    Covers assistant surgeon reporting when a qualified resident surgeon is not available. The section discusses the modifier in a teaching-hospital style context.

17. Modifier 99

    Explains use of multiple modifiers when more than one modifier is needed to describe a service. The section gives a general surgical reporting example and references related modifier combinations.

18. Editors Note

    Summarizes the article’s scope and points readers to additional related modifiers and future discussion. It also reinforces the article’s general guidance on modifier usage versus unrelated code selection.