Which modifier indicates a discontinued outpatient procedure prior to anesthesia administration?

Which modifier indicates a discontinued outpatient procedure prior to anesthesia administration?

• A. -53
• B. -73
• C. -74
• D. -52

Answer: (B)

Understanding this question hinges on how CPT modifiers describe when a procedure is discontinued relative to anesthesia. When a procedure is started in the operating room and then halted before anesthesia is administered, the modifier that captures that specific moment is the one used for a discontinued procedure after the patient has been brought into the operating room but before anesthesia. That is why the correct choice is the code -73. It signals that the plan was to proceed, the patient entered the OR, the procedure began, but anesthesia was never given and the procedure was discontinued. The other codes cover different timing: -74 is used if the procedure is stopped after anesthesia has begun, -53 if the procedure is discontinued before anesthesia, and -52 if only reduced services were provided.

Understanding this question hinges on how CPT modifiers describe when a procedure is discontinued relative to anesthesia. When a procedure is started in the operating room and then halted before anesthesia is administered, the modifier that captures that specific moment is the one used for a discontinued procedure after the patient has been brought into the operating room but before anesthesia. That is why the correct choice is the code -73. It signals that the plan was to proceed, the patient entered the OR, the procedure began, but anesthesia was never given and the procedure was discontinued. The other codes cover different timing: -74 is used if the procedure is stopped after anesthesia has begun, -53 if the procedure is discontinued before anesthesia, and -52 if only reduced services were provided.