What is the modifier 25 rule?

Asked by: Jacinthe Okuneva  |  Last update: April 7, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (66 votes)

Modifier 25 is used to indicate that a patient's condition required a significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management (E/M) service above and beyond that associated with another procedure or service being reported by the same physician or other qualified health care professional (QHP) on the same date.

What is inappropriate use of modifier 25?

Do not use modifier 25 when billing for services performed during a post-operative period if related to the previous surgery. Related follow-up examinations by the same provider during the global period of a previous procedure are included in that procedure's global surgical package.

Why is modifier 25 being denied?

Key considerations for reporting modifier -25

Because the removal of the foreign body included the pre- and post-operative services, in this case, the use of modifier -25 would not be appropriate. If the doctor of optometry were to use the modifier, a claim audit would likely result in it being denied.

Does 99213 need a modifier 25?

If the E/M is not bundled into the stress test, then the Cardiologist's coder can use modifier 25 to indicate that these two services were separate and significant: 99213-25, 93015.

What is the modifier 26 rule?

Modifier 26 is defined as the professional component (PC). The PC is outlined as a physician's service, which may include technician supervision, interpretation of results and a written report. Use modifier 26 when a physician interprets but does not perform the test.

MEDICAL CODING MODIFIER 25 - Compliantly bill an E&M and separate service on the same date

37 related questions found

What is the criteria for modifier 25?

Modifier 25 is used to indicate that a patient's condition required a significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management (E/M) service above and beyond that associated with another procedure or service being reported by the same physician or other qualified health care professional (QHP) on the same date.

Which scenario qualifies for modifier 25?

Modifier 25 is a way to identify a “significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional on the same day of the procedure or other service,” according to the CPT 2024 code set.

What is the difference between modifier 24 and 25?

Modifier 24 refers to the evaluation and management services provided to the patient on the day of a surgical procedure unrelated to the procedure itself. Modifier 25 identifies the evaluation and management services as unique services provided on the same day by the same medical professional.

What is modifier 27?

Modifier 27 is for hospital/outpatient facilities to use when multiple outpatient hospital E/M encounters occur for the same member on the same date of service.

Which of the following is true about attaching modifier 25?

Modifier 25 can only be attached to an E/M code. The E/M service must be significant and clearly separate. Both an E/M code and a procedure code must be submitted by the same physician on the same day as the procedure.

How does modifier 25 affect payment?

Automatic reduction in payment for the second code to account for what they perceive to be “overlap” between the two codes (e.g., a Preventive Medicine Service E/M code reported with an Office or Other Outpatient Service E/M code appended with modifier 25 allows payment of the Preventive Medicine Service code at 100 ...

Can you add modifier 25 to 99214?

Yes, you can add modifier 25 to CPT code 99214 if a significant, separately identifiable E/M service is performed on the same day as another procedure.

Can you bill an office visit with a cast application?

A charge for procedure codes 29000-29590 is allowed only when the casting or strapping is a replacement procedure used during the period of follow-up care. The charge for an office visit is allowed only if significant identifiable further services are provided at the time of the cast application or strapping.

Is modifier 25 needed for EKG?

Yes, you need to add a -25 modifier to your E&M service when billing in conjunction with an EKG or injection admin service done on same DOS. You're sure to get a bundling denial without it.

What is an unnecessary modifier?

A modifier is a word or a group of words which describe, limit, or qualify a subject. There are two kinds of modifiers: nonrestrictive and restrictive. Nonrestrictive modifiers are not essential or not necessary to the meaning of a sentence while restrictive modifiers are necessary to the meaning of the sentence.

What is the CMS rule for modifier 25?

Use modifier 25 (same-day significant, separately identifiable E/M service) on the claim when you report critical care services unrelated to the service or procedure that you perform on the same day. You must also document the medical record with the relevant criteria for the respective E/M service you're reporting.

What is 57 modifier?

CPT modifier 57 may be used to report the decision for surgery for certain codes. This modifier may be used to indicate that an evaluation and management (E/M) service performed on the same day or the day before a major surgery (090 global days) by the surgeon resulted in the decision to perform the procedure.

What is modifier 77?

CPT Modifier 77 'Repeat procedure by another physician': A physician may need to indicate that he or she repeated a service performed by another physician on the same day.

What is modifier 25 not used for?

Note: this Modifier is not used to report an E/M service that resulted in a decision to perform surgery, see Modifier 57. For significant, separately identifiable non-E/M services on the same day, see Modifier 59. There are several nationally recognized sources of information on the Modifier 25.

What is modifier 23?

General Use of Modifier 23

Append Modifier 23 to an anesthesia procedure code to indicate that a procedure normally performed under local anesthesia or with a regional block required general anesthesia. Documentation shall support the reason that general anesthesia was required.

What is modifier 59?

Modifier 59 Distinct Procedural Service indicates that a procedure is separate and distinct from another procedure on the same date of service. Typically, this modifier is applied to a procedure code that is not ordinarily paid separately from the first procedure but should be paid per the specifics of the situation.

Can you have an office visit and injection on the same day?

Answer: Unfortunately, no. It is true that an evaluation and management code, an E/M or office visit, can be reported with a minor procedure such as an injection, but only if the E/M is significant and separate and exceeds the “pre-service evaluation” that is inherent to the injection.

What is modifier 26?

• Modifier 26 is appended when a physician provides the professional component only of the global fee. and when the physician prepares a written interpretation and report. • Modifier 26 should only be appended to codes which are listed in the CMS NPFSRVF as modifier 26. appropriate.

What is the UHC modifier 25 policy?

For example, the description for modifier 25 (Significant, Separately Identifiable Evaluation and Management Service by the Same Physician on the Same Day of the Procedure or Other Service) specifies that it is to be reported with an Evaluation and Management (E/M) service.