Which modifier should be used to indicate a professional service has been discontinued prior to completion?

Which modifier should be used to indicate a professional service has been discontinued prior to completion?

• A. -53
• B. -73
• C. -74
• D. -52

Answer: (A)

When a professional service is started but not completed, you attach the discontinued procedure modifier to the CPT code for the service. This communicates to the payer that work was begun and some portion was performed, but the full procedure was not finished, so the service isn’t billed as completed. It also signals that the discontinuation happened during the course of the procedure itself, rather than before any work began or after anesthesia. That’s why this modifier is the correct choice for a professional service discontinued prior to completion. The other modifiers describe different scenarios: reduced services means only part of the service was delivered, while the pre-anesthesia or post-anesthesia cancellation modifiers cover outpatient cancellations before or after anesthesia, not the extent of work performed during the procedure. Proper documentation should explain why the procedure was discontinued and what portion was completed.

When a professional service is started but not completed, you attach the discontinued procedure modifier to the CPT code for the service. This communicates to the payer that work was begun and some portion was performed, but the full procedure was not finished, so the service isn’t billed as completed. It also signals that the discontinuation happened during the course of the procedure itself, rather than before any work began or after anesthesia. That’s why this modifier is the correct choice for a professional service discontinued prior to completion. The other modifiers describe different scenarios: reduced services means only part of the service was delivered, while the pre-anesthesia or post-anesthesia cancellation modifiers cover outpatient cancellations before or after anesthesia, not the extent of work performed during the procedure. Proper documentation should explain why the procedure was discontinued and what portion was completed.