What is the primary purpose of using CPT modifiers?

The primary purpose of using CPT modifiers is to indicate changes in the procedure performed. Modifiers provide additional information to the payer about how the procedure was altered from its standard definition. This could involve indicating that a service was modified in some way, such as being bilateral, performed under unusual circumstances, or requiring increased effort. For instance, using the modifier can inform the insurance company that while the procedure is the same, there are specific factors that should be taken into account during the billing and reimbursement process.

On the other hand, while patient information can be very detailed in medical documentation, modifiers do not serve the primary goal of conveying comprehensive patient details. They are also not meant for categorizing diagnoses; diagnosis coding is a separate function handled by ICD codes. Furthermore, although modifiers can help clarify billing and reimbursement processes, their primary function is to specify modifications to the procedures being reported rather than simplification of the billing itself.