Wiki modifer 25 or 57

[poshley203646]

Would I add a modifier 57 or 25 to an E/M if an individual has a laceration repair? Provider evaluates the cut, discusses risks and benefits and consent obtained for a laceration repair.

 

[thomas7331]

Would I add a modifier 57 or 25 to an E/M if an individual has a laceration repair? Provider evaluates the cut, discusses risks and benefits and consent obtained for a laceration repair.

Simple, intermediate and complex laceration repairs are minor procedures, so a modifier 57 is not appropriate since that only applies to major procedures. A modifier 25 may be appropriate if the documentation supports separately identifiable E&M services. But based on the information you provided above, if the evaluation of the cut, discussion of the procedure and obtaining consent was all that was done, then an E&M code should not be billed as this is inclusive to the procedure and would not support the use of the modifier.

 

[poshley203646]

thank you