Modifiers

Repeat Procedures - Modifiers 76 and 77

Exact duplicate data fields submitted for claims include:

  • Same beneficiary
  • Same provider
  • Same dates of service
  • Same types of services
  • Same place of service
  • Same procedure codes
  • Same billed amount

Therefore, issues may exist when valid repeat services are billed and not submitted correctly. For these claims the following modifiers are used:

  • Modifier 76: Repeat procedure by the same physician
  • Modifier 77: Repeat procedure by another physician

Modifier 76 indicates that a procedure or service was repeated on the same day by the same physician.

  • The procedure code is listed once, and then listed again with modifier 76 added (two line items). The second line item will have the appropriate quantity billed amount.

Example: Physician orders a 71045 radiologic examination, chest; single view, frontal.

  1. First, 71045 performed at 8:00 a.m. by NPI 1
  2. Second, repeated at 1:00 p.m. by NPI 1
  3. Third, repeated at 3:00 p.m. by NPI 1
  4. Fourth, repeated at 6:00 p.m. by NPI 1
  5. Fifth, repeated at 10:00 p.m. by NPI 1

Below is what your claim should look like:

  • Detailed line one: 71045 billed with 1 unit of service
  • Detailed line two: 71045 76 with 4 units of service

In the example above there are a total of five chest X-rays by the same physician.

Modifier 77 indicates that a procedure had to be repeated by a different physician on the same day.

  • The procedure code is listed once and then listed again with modifier 77 added (two line items). The second line item will have the appropriate quantity billed amount.

There will be times a procedure was repeated, but by a different physician; therefore, the above scenario would be different and would be reported differently.

Example: Physician orders a 71045 radiologic examination, chest; single view, frontal.

  1. First, 71045 performed at 8:00 a.m. by NPI 1
  2. Second, repeated at 1:00 p.m. by NPI 1
  3. Third, repeated at 3:00 p.m. by NPI 1
  4. Fourth, repeated at 6:00 p.m. by different NPI 2
  5. Fifth, repeated at 10:00 p.m. by different NPI 2

Below is what your claim should look like:

  • Detailed line one: 71045 billed with 1 unit of service by NPI 1
  • Detailed line two: 71045 76 with 2 units of service by same NPI 1
  • Detailed line three: 71045 77 with 2 units of service by different NPI 2

In the example above there are a total of five chest X-rays: three by the same physician and two by a different physician.

Example: Procedure 93000 electrocardiogram, routine EKG with at least 12 leads, with interpretation and report. The 93000 is performed on a patient three times in a day.

  1. First, 93000 is performed at 9:30 a.m. by NPI 1
  2. Second, repeat at 3:30 p.m. by a different physician NPI 2
  3. Third, repeat at 8:30 p.m. by different physician NPI 2

The only difference is that the second and third EKG is performed by a different physician.

Below is what your claim should look like:

  • Detailed line one: 93000 billed with 1 unit of service by NPI 1
  • Detailed line two: 93000 77 with 2 units of service by different NPI 2

Total of three EKGs; one by a physician and two by a different physician.

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Reviewed 10/16/2024