Wiki Modifiers for 17000 and 17003

[louisel]

What modifier would I use with 17000 and 17003? Would I use 51 or 59? Keep getting rejections!

 

[ollielooya]

hi again, you need to be more specific. How are you billing? What is the diagnosis? What is the denial reason? General questions can only warrant a general response. You'll get a better response if you supply more details.

 

[CatchTheWind]

If you are billing these codes with a "bigger" surgery, you would use 59.

 

[raykatcar]

Joanne

Medicare is using xu, xs and i think xp now also

 

[jfree104]

17000 is the primary destruction code for the first lesion. 17003 is the add-on code for each additional lesion. List separately for each additional lesion up to 14 lesions. Modifier is not appropriate with add-on codes.

If these are the only codes used it would look like this:
17000 (w/medically necessary dx)
17003 (w/ medically necessary dx)

There must be medical necessity for these procedures otherwise it is considered cosmetic.