Question: I have been training several new coders, and a couple of them are having problems understanding how to use modifiers. In fact, Medicare has returned several of the trainees’ claims as “unprocessable.” When we go back and look at the claims, inappropriate modifier use is almost always the culprit. How can I get these coders to improve at coding with modifiers? Iowa Subscriber Answer: Your problem is not an uncommon one. According to JA MAC Part B, the Medicare contractor for Michigan and Indiana, inappropriate modifier usage is one of the most common reasons for claim denial. For example, adding modifier 25 (Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional on the same day of the procedure or other service) to a procedure code will always result in a denial. In order to mitigate claim denials from inappropriate modifier usage, JA MAC recommends that you: JA MAC also offers these documentation tips to make your claims containing modifiers as clean as possible: