Using modifiers 50 & 51: Bilateral vs. multiple procedures
Modifier 50, bilateral procedures
Read the CPT code description closely. If it contains wording such as "unilateral" or "bilateral," the service is not valid for use of the 50 modifier.
- Modifier is used when an identical service is performed on both sides of a paired organ.
- Medicare bilateral procedure indicator is one or three.
- Submit a single claim line with the appropriate code and modifier 50 appended; report total units as "1."
- The single line will be reimbursed at 150% of the contracted fee when the 50 modifier is appended correctly.
- Multiple procedure reductions apply when multiple procedures are performed by the same physician on the same patient in the same surgical session.
- RT and LT does not take the place of the 50 modifier and should only be used for services rendered on one side of a paired organ.
- If billing on a UB 04, the bilateral procedure must be billed on two lines. The 50 modifier should only be put on the second line.
Bilateral radiology services
- Radiology procedures are not subject to the bilateral pricing methodology. They are reimbursed at 100% of fee schedule for each service rendered.
- Many radiology services can be reported with a bilateral modifier (services performed on both sides of a paired organ/structure), but read the CPT code description to ensure that it does not contain wording such as "unilateral" or "bilateral"
- Report 2 units for bilateral services when reporting on a single claim line, or 1 unit per line when reporting on two claim lines.
Modifier 51, multiple procedures
Also see
Multiple same-day procedures - Modifier 51 is not required on claim lines when multiple procedures are performed on the same day. Priority Health will apply multiple same-day surgical logic based on our fee schedule amounts.
- Priority Health does not use Medicare's multiple endoscopic procedure methodology, but the services are subject to the same day multiple surgical reduction.
- Modifier 51 does not apply to procedures classified as "add-on" or "Modifier 51 exempt."
- Modifiers such as F- (finger), T- (toe), LT, and RT should be used to communicate locations/ anatomical sites and will be subject to the multiple same-day procedures reduction.
- The service with the highest allowed fee amount will be priced at 100% of the Priority Health fee schedule. Each additional same-day procedure will be priced at 50% of the fee, based on the lesser of billed charges or fee schedule amount.
- Multiple same-day procedure reduction will be identified as "MSD" on your remittance advice.
