FEB 22, 2015
Comparative Billing Reports
Beginning February 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will issue surgeons a comparative billing report (CBR) on the usage of modifiers -24 and -25 appended to E/M exams billed during the postoperative period. The CBR will compare each physician’s billing patterns against their peers and provide an explanation of their findings. As a reminder, modifier -24 is appended to the E/M or Eye code for an exam performed during the postoperative period that is unrelated to the surgery. Modifier -25 is appended to the E/M or Eye code for a significant and separate exam the same day as a minor procedure. CMS states that the reports will be faxed to the surgeons.