A coding specialist should use which modifier to report a bilateral procedure?

A coding specialist should use which modifier to report a bilateral procedure?

• A. -50
• B. -51
• C. -52
• D. -53

Answer: (A)

Bilateral procedures are signaled by using the bilateral modifier -50 appended to the CPT code. This modifier tells the payer that the same procedure was performed on both sides during the same surgical session, which often affects reimbursement to reflect the bilateral work. The other modifiers serve different purposes—-51 for multiple procedures, -52 for reduced services, and -53 for a discontinued procedure—so they do not indicate that a procedure was performed on both sides. Therefore, the bilateral modifier -50 is the correct choice for reporting a bilateral procedure.

Bilateral procedures are signaled by using the bilateral modifier -50 appended to the CPT code. This modifier tells the payer that the same procedure was performed on both sides during the same surgical session, which often affects reimbursement to reflect the bilateral work. The other modifiers serve different purposes—-51 for multiple procedures, -52 for reduced services, and -53 for a discontinued procedure—so they do not indicate that a procedure was performed on both sides. Therefore, the bilateral modifier -50 is the correct choice for reporting a bilateral procedure.