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Speed Up Learning Add-On Rules With This Tool

Published on Sat May 05, 2007

6 tips make you the master of these specially designated codes Although CPT's -add-on- designation applies to many procedures and services -- from E/M to surgical procedures to equipment use -- all add-on codes share the following characteristics:
 
- The CPT manual denotes them with a -+- to the code's left

- The CPT code descriptor includes some version of the phrase -list separately in addition to code for primary procedure-

- You should always use them with a -primary- procedure (parent code)

- You should never list them as a primary procedure

- You should never list them with modifier 51 (Multiple procedures) appended

- Carriers should not lower payment as a multiple-procedure reduction.
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