26 - JE Part B
Modifier 26
Professional Component (PC) 'interpretation' Only (separate from technical component for diagnostic, lab or pathology procedures).
Instructions
- Indicates physician's interpretation or professional component reported separately (from technical component) for diagnostic, lab or pathology procedures
- Check Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Indicator and Descriptor Lists
- Certain codes are divided from global with TC/26 modifiers
- Technical and professional component fees equal total global allowance
- Report in first field as a payment modifier
Correct Use
- Involves global, professional and technical. E.g. 71010, 71010 26 and 71010 TC
- Place of Service (POS) 21, 22 and 23 only
- Services appended with modifier 26
- Facility pays technical portion with modifier TC
- If 26 and TC are provided in different service locations (enrolled practice locations), professional and technical must be billed separately
Incorrect Use
- Do not use with evaluation and management (E/M) or Anesthesia codes
- An independent laboratory may not bill TC of a physician pathology service furnished to a hospital inpatient or outpatient
- Cannot use separately if provider performed global service (In this case, no modifier would be necessary)
Claim Coding Example
Treatment Description | CPT/Modifier |
---|---|
Cytopathology, in situ hybridization (e.g. FISH), urinary tract specimen with morphometric analysis, 3-5 molecular probes, each specimen; manual | 88120 26 |
Resource