Ask Dr. Z

We are trying to come up with a guideline for this. What is your opinion? If the physician doesn't give a reason for doing less than a comprehensive diagnostic study before an ablation, I believe that modifier -74 should be appended by the hospital rather than the -52 modifier, since the time, staff, and equipment remains pretty much the same. If I remember correctly, modifier -74 is also appropriate to indicate that a planned surgical or diagnostic procedure was partially reduced at the physician's discretion.