Medical billing is the process of submitting claims to insurance companies or patients for reimbursement of medical services, involving coding, claim generation, and following up on payments to ensure healthcare providers get paid.
The GV modifier is defined by CMS as follows: “Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient’s hospice provider.” In plain terms, this modifier indicates that the provider is acting as the patient’s attending physician, but is not employed or contracted by the hospice organization, and the care provided is unrelated to … Read more
The 53 modifier, officially titled “Discontinued Procedure”, is used when a physician begins a procedure but must stop it due to extenuating circumstances or a threat to patient well-being. In other words: “We started—but had to stop for a good reason.” This doesn’t mean a failed procedure or clinical error—it’s about safety, decision-making, and knowing … Read more
The 51 modifier, officially known as “Multiple Procedures,” is appended to secondary or subsequent CPT codes when multiple procedures are performed during the same session by the same physician (or provider group), on the same patient. In plain English: It tells the payer, “We did more than one thing, and here’s the second (or third…) … Read more
Modifier 50, officially titled “Bilateral Procedure,” is appended to a CPT code to indicate that a procedure was performed on both sides of the body during the same session. For example: A physician removes a skin lesion on both arms during one encounter. Modifier 50 tells the payer: “We did this same procedure, on both … Read more
The 26 modifier, formally known as the Professional Component Modifier, is used when a procedure has both a technical and a professional component, and the billing provider is only responsible for the professional portion. In simple terms: It tells the payer, “I’m only billing for my interpretation and report of the test—not the equipment or … Read more
In medical billing, IPA stands for Independent Practice Association. This organization plays a vital role in healthcare, especially in billing and reimbursement. To understand IPA’s role in medical billing, we must explore its function in managed care and insurance. What is an IPA? An Independent Practice Association (IPA) is a network of independent healthcare providers. This includes: The … Read more
The National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) was developed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to promote accurate and ethical coding. NCCI edits are automated code pair restrictions and usage limits that ensure healthcare providers do not report incompatible, redundant, or unbundled procedures on the same claim or during related episodes of care. … Read more
Modifier 23 means “Unusual Anesthesia.” It’s appended to a surgical procedure code to indicate that anesthesia services were more extensive than typically expected due to unusual circumstances. CPT Definition: Modifier 23 – Unusual Anesthesia: “When a procedure which usually requires either no anesthesia or local anesthesia must be done under general anesthesia due to unusual … Read more
While medical coders and billers both contribute to the healthcare revenue cycle, their roles serve different but complementary purposes. Medical coders translate doctors’ notes, test results, and procedures into standardized codes like ICD-10 and CPT. These codes are essential for insurance documentation and accurate patient records. In contrast, medical billers take those codes and prepare … Read more
Whether you’re a student learning medical billing, a healthcare provider, or a patient reviewing your surgical charges, understanding the difference between global periods and postoperative care billing can help you avoid confusion and billing errors. Where to Learn About Global and Postoperative Periods If you want reliable, up-to-date information on surgical billing rules, start with … Read more
