Modifier -57, Decision for Surgery:
An Evaluation and Management service resulted in the initial decision to perform surgery during the
E/M encounter.
Let's describe this modifier:
An OB/GYN sees a patient who complains with severe abdominal pain. It turned out (through ultra
sound, radiology and all other diagnostic testing and documentations), the patient is having an
ectopic pregrancy. The OB/GYN performs the laparoscopic surgery on the same day. The E/M
encounter will then be reported with modifier 57 which resulted to decision for surgery. The
laparoscopic surgery should also be reported as performed on the same day without a modifier.
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