Why are modifiers used?

• A. Three-character modifiers used to adjust payment
• B. Two-character modifiers that provide additional information to payers to ensure proper payment
• C. Four-digit codes for scheduling
• D. Modifiers replace CPT codes in some cases

Answer: (B)

Modifiers are two-character codes added to CPT codes to convey extra information about the service to payers. This added detail helps ensure proper payment by clarifying circumstances that can affect reimbursement—such as bilateral procedures, multiple procedures in one visit, or separate professional vs technical components. They do not replace CPT codes; they accompany them to modify the meaning of the service. They aren’t scheduling codes. In this item, the best description is that modifiers provide additional information to payers to ensure proper payment; the other options misstate the purpose or format of modifiers.