Can I use Modifier 59 for Office Visit 99213, 99214?
Modifier 59
Ask a Question: An established patient came in to our office for her Well-Woman Exam or Preventive Exam but also presented with a back pain after hurting her back bringing her Christmas Tree and Decors up from her basement.Can I use modifier 59 for Office Visit 99213 or problem-sick visit for her back pain encounter with the provider? or Can I use modifier 59 for Preventive Visit code of which she was originally scheduled to be seen that day?
From Blog Subscriber.Per CPT Guideline, part of it reads – “Modifier 59 should not be appended to an E/M service. To report a separate and distinct E/M service with a non-E/M service performed on the same date, see Modifier 25”
So the ANSWER is – NO.
You do not use or append modifier 59 to an E/M (Evaluation and Management) code! This modifier is not applicable with your E/M codes! You only append this to your procedure codes describing a Distinct Procedural Service.
Use instead the Modifier 25 – (to identify a significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service performed on the same day as another procedure or service by the same provider); or Modifier 24 – (to identify an unrelated E/M services during the post-operative / global period beginning the day after a procedure, when the E/M is performed by the same physician)
References: CPT Code Book (Modifier Section), CMS Guidelines and NCCI Edits about Modifier 59
Question asked: Can I use Modifier 59 for Office Visit 99213
Answer: NO.
What do you think? Your comment will be appreciated!