Question

Mrs. Roberts falls at work. She claims that she is all right, but her employer's workers' compensation policy requires that she see a physician to confirm she was not injured when she fell. The physician files a claim to the workers' compensation carrier. Which modifier would you use when reporting the physician's service to the patient?

a. -TC
b. -26
c. -51
d. -59

Answer 1

The correct modifier to use when reporting the physician's service to the patient under a workers' compensation policy is modifier -26, which indicates only the professional component was provided.

Step-by-step explanation:

When reporting the physician's service to the patient under a workers' compensation policy, the correct modifier to use would be -26. Modifier -26 is used to indicate that only the professional component of the service was provided. This is applicable when the physician is providing an assessment or interpretation of a test but does not perform the actual test. The other modifiers, -TC (Technical Component), -51 (Multiple Procedures), and -59 (Distinct Procedural Service), are not appropriate in this context. Modifier -26 would be included in the claim to specify that the service performed was purely the professional, interpretive aspect of the examination.