Internal Medicine Coding Alert
READER QUESTIONS:
Use No Modifier for "Stat" Test
Published on Fri Jul 24, 2009 
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Question:
Nebraska Subscriber
Answer:
No. Ordering a test "stat" does not fall under modifier 22's (Increased procedural service) definition. "Stat" indicates only that your physician needs the results quickly. Your physician cannot charge extra for having the result of 95024 (Intracutaneous [intradermal] tests with allergenic extracts, immediate type reaction, including test interpretation and report by a physician, specify number of tests) done quickly You may append modifier 22 only when the service(s) your physician provides is "substantially greater than typically required," according to CPT's Appendix A. To support using this modifier, your physician's documentation must support the "substantial additional work" and must list the reasons why the doctor had to work harder, such as increased intensity or added time.Other Articles in this issue of
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