CMS is establishing four new, more specific modifiers that will eventually replace modifier 59 (distinct procedural service) and the new modifiers will be effective on Jan. 1, according to an Anesthesia Business Consultants blog post.
CMS will continue to recognize modifier 59 "as a default," however, the agency encourages physicians and coders that modifier -59 should not be used when a more descriptive modifier is available.
According to the blog post, anesthesia practices should defer changes to their systems until they receive further instructions from their Medicare Administrative Contractors and non-Medicare carriers. Anesthesia practices should also check the National Correct Coding Initiative in January, when CMS typically releases corresponding CCI guidance specific to each range of Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes.
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CMS will continue to recognize modifier 59 "as a default," however, the agency encourages physicians and coders that modifier -59 should not be used when a more descriptive modifier is available.
According to the blog post, anesthesia practices should defer changes to their systems until they receive further instructions from their Medicare Administrative Contractors and non-Medicare carriers. Anesthesia practices should also check the National Correct Coding Initiative in January, when CMS typically releases corresponding CCI guidance specific to each range of Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes.
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