What does modifier -24 indicate?

Modifier -24 is utilized to indicate that a physician or qualified healthcare professional has provided an unrelated evaluation and management (E/M) service during the postoperative period of a surgical procedure. This modifier specifically denotes that the E/M service performed is not related to the surgical procedure that has been conducted, which is crucial for accurate billing and reimbursement. The use of this modifier ensures that the payer understands the context of the service provided—clarifying that the office visit or consultation is necessary and significant enough to warrant separate reporting, despite occurring within the designated postoperative timeframe.

In contrast, the other choices address different scenarios. A bilateral procedure typically uses a different modifier to indicate that a service was performed on both sides of the body, while an increased procedural service refers to circumstances where additional complexity or time affected a service, warranting an adjustment in billing. Lastly, a repeated service by a different physician is indicated by yet another modifier that highlights the unique situation of a service being performed again rather than addressing separate unrelated evaluations.