Internal Medicine Coding Alert

Question: My CPT manual says that the definition for modifier 22 is "unusual procedural services." I thought this changed last year. Has the AMA changed the definition again?

Arkansas Subscriber

Answer: You are correct that the definition of modifier 22 should not be "unusual procedural services." The correct definition is "increased procedural services."

Visit the American Medical Association (AMA) Web site to review all of the CPT 2009 errata information. Navigate to http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/3896.html and click on "Corrections in CPT 2009."

Remember: Modifier 22 is for procedures only; never append modifier 22 to an E/M service.

Good practice: Have your CPT manual on hand and go through it, marking all of the fixes directly in your manual so that you’re sure to be working with the most correct, up-to-date information when you’re coding.