LCD Reference Article Billing and Coding Article

Billing and Coding: Use of Laterality Modifiers

A56869

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Draft Article
Draft Articles are works in progress and not necessarily a reflection of the current billing and coding practices. Revisions to codes are carefully and thoroughly reviewed and are not intended to change the original intent of the LCD.
NOT AN LCD REFERENCE ARTICLE
This article is not in direct support of an LCD.

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Note History

Contractor Information

Article Information

General Information

Source Article ID
N/A
Article ID
A56869
Original ICD-9 Article ID
Not Applicable
Article Title
Billing and Coding: Use of Laterality Modifiers
Article Type
Billing and Coding
Original Effective Date
09/09/2019
Revision Effective Date
01/01/2022
Revision Ending Date
N/A
Retirement Date
N/A
AMA CPT / ADA CDT / AHA NUBC Copyright Statement

CPT codes, descriptions and other data only are copyright 2023 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. Applicable FARS/HHSARS apply.

Fee schedules, relative value units, conversion factors and/or related components are not assigned by the AMA, are not part of CPT, and the AMA is not recommending their use. The AMA does not directly or indirectly practice medicine or dispense medical services. The AMA assumes no liability for data contained or not contained herein.

Current Dental Terminology © 2023 American Dental Association. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2023, the American Hospital Association, Chicago, Illinois. Reproduced with permission. No portion of the American Hospital Association (AHA) copyrighted materials contained within this publication may be copied without the express written consent of the AHA. AHA copyrighted materials including the UB‐04 codes and descriptions may not be removed, copied, or utilized within any software, product, service, solution or derivative work without the written consent of the AHA. If an entity wishes to utilize any AHA materials, please contact the AHA at 312‐893‐6816.

Making copies or utilizing the content of the UB‐04 Manual, including the codes and/or descriptions, for internal purposes, resale and/or to be used in any product or publication; creating any modified or derivative work of the UB‐04 Manual and/or codes and descriptions; and/or making any commercial use of UB‐04 Manual or any portion thereof, including the codes and/or descriptions, is only authorized with an express license from the American Hospital Association. The American Hospital Association (the "AHA") has not reviewed, and is not responsible for, the completeness or accuracy of any information contained in this material, nor was the AHA or any of its affiliates, involved in the preparation of this material, or the analysis of information provided in the material. The views and/or positions presented in the material do not necessarily represent the views of the AHA. CMS and its products and services are not endorsed by the AHA or any of its affiliates.

CMS National Coverage Policy

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Article Guidance

Article Text

In order to facilitate claims processing and avoid denials for duplicate claims, claims which contain CPT®/HCPCS codes describing services performed on anatomic structures that can be distinguished as left or right require laterality modifiers. This article is not a comprehensive listing of all such codes; however, all claims involving the CPT® codes included in this article will be rejected unless the appropriate laterality modifiers (-RT; -LT) for unilateral procedures are reported. Bilateral procedures should be indicated by the appropriate modifier for bilateral procedures. CPT® codes that are designated in their description as “unilateral or bilateral” do not require additional laterality modifiers.

Claim lines for CPT®/HCPCS codes requiring use of the RT and LT modifiers, submitted without the RT and/or LT modifiers or with the RT/LT on a single claim line will be rejected as incorrect coding.

Response To Comments

Number Comment Response
1
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Coding Information

Bill Type Codes

Code Description
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Revenue Codes

Code Description
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CPT/HCPCS Codes

Group 1

(31 Codes)
Group 1 Paragraph

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Group 1 Codes
Code Description
15820 BLEPHAROPLASTY, LOWER EYELID;
15821 BLEPHAROPLASTY, LOWER EYELID; WITH EXTENSIVE HERNIATED FAT PAD
15822 BLEPHAROPLASTY, UPPER EYELID;
15823 BLEPHAROPLASTY, UPPER EYELID; WITH EXCESSIVE SKIN WEIGHTING DOWN LID
20610 ARTHROCENTESIS, ASPIRATION AND/OR INJECTION, MAJOR JOINT OR BURSA (EG, SHOULDER, HIP, KNEE, SUBACROMIAL BURSA); WITHOUT ULTRASOUND GUIDANCE
20611 ARTHROCENTESIS, ASPIRATION AND/OR INJECTION, MAJOR JOINT OR BURSA (EG, SHOULDER, HIP, KNEE, SUBACROMIAL BURSA); WITH ULTRASOUND GUIDANCE, WITH PERMANENT RECORDING AND REPORTING
66940 REMOVAL OF LENS MATERIAL; EXTRACAPSULAR (OTHER THAN 66840, 66850, 66852)
66982 EXTRACAPSULAR CATARACT REMOVAL WITH INSERTION OF INTRAOCULAR LENS PROSTHESIS (1-STAGE PROCEDURE), MANUAL OR MECHANICAL TECHNIQUE (EG, IRRIGATION AND ASPIRATION OR PHACOEMULSIFICATION), COMPLEX, REQUIRING DEVICES OR TECHNIQUES NOT GENERALLY USED IN ROUTINE CATARACT SURGERY (EG, IRIS EXPANSION DEVICE, SUTURE SUPPORT FOR INTRAOCULAR LENS, OR PRIMARY POSTERIOR CAPSULORRHEXIS) OR PERFORMED ON PATIENTS IN THE AMBLYOGENIC DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE; WITHOUT ENDOSCOPIC CYCLOPHOTOCOAGULATION
66983 INTRACAPSULAR CATARACT EXTRACTION WITH INSERTION OF INTRAOCULAR LENS PROSTHESIS (1 STAGE PROCEDURE)
66984 EXTRACAPSULAR CATARACT REMOVAL WITH INSERTION OF INTRAOCULAR LENS PROSTHESIS (1 STAGE PROCEDURE), MANUAL OR MECHANICAL TECHNIQUE (EG, IRRIGATION AND ASPIRATION OR PHACOEMULSIFICATION); WITHOUT ENDOSCOPIC CYCLOPHOTOCOAGULATION
66987 EXTRACAPSULAR CATARACT REMOVAL WITH INSERTION OF INTRAOCULAR LENS PROSTHESIS (1-STAGE PROCEDURE), MANUAL OR MECHANICAL TECHNIQUE (EG, IRRIGATION AND ASPIRATION OR PHACOEMULSIFICATION), COMPLEX, REQUIRING DEVICES OR TECHNIQUES NOT GENERALLY USED IN ROUTINE CATARACT SURGERY (EG, IRIS EXPANSION DEVICE, SUTURE SUPPORT FOR INTRAOCULAR LENS, OR PRIMARY POSTERIOR CAPSULORRHEXIS) OR PERFORMED ON PATIENTS IN THE AMBLYOGENIC DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE; WITH ENDOSCOPIC CYCLOPHOTOCOAGULATION
66988 EXTRACAPSULAR CATARACT REMOVAL WITH INSERTION OF INTRAOCULAR LENS PROSTHESIS (1 STAGE PROCEDURE), MANUAL OR MECHANICAL TECHNIQUE (EG, IRRIGATION AND ASPIRATION OR PHACOEMULSIFICATION); WITH ENDOSCOPIC CYCLOPHOTOCOAGULATION
66989 EXTRACAPSULAR CATARACT REMOVAL WITH INSERTION OF INTRAOCULAR LENS PROSTHESIS (1-STAGE PROCEDURE), MANUAL OR MECHANICAL TECHNIQUE (EG, IRRIGATION AND ASPIRATION OR PHACOEMULSIFICATION), COMPLEX, REQUIRING DEVICES OR TECHNIQUES NOT GENERALLY USED IN ROUTINE CATARACT SURGERY (EG, IRIS EXPANSION DEVICE, SUTURE SUPPORT FOR INTRAOCULAR LENS, OR PRIMARY POSTERIOR CAPSULORRHEXIS) OR PERFORMED ON PATIENTS IN THE AMBLYOGENIC DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE; WITH INSERTION OF INTRAOCULAR (EG, TRABECULAR MESHWORK, SUPRACILIARY, SUPRACHOROIDAL) ANTERIOR SEGMENT AQUEOUS DRAINAGE DEVICE, WITHOUT EXTRAOCULAR RESERVOIR, INTERNAL APPROACH, ONE OR MORE
66991 EXTRACAPSULAR CATARACT REMOVAL WITH INSERTION OF INTRAOCULAR LENS PROSTHESIS (1 STAGE PROCEDURE), MANUAL OR MECHANICAL TECHNIQUE (EG, IRRIGATION AND ASPIRATION OR PHACOEMULSIFICATION); WITH INSERTION OF INTRAOCULAR (EG, TRABECULAR MESHWORK, SUPRACILIARY, SUPRACHOROIDAL) ANTERIOR SEGMENT AQUEOUS DRAINAGE DEVICE, WITHOUT EXTRAOCULAR RESERVOIR, INTERNAL APPROACH, ONE OR MORE
67027 IMPLANTATION OF INTRAVITREAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM (EG, GANCICLOVIR IMPLANT), INCLUDES CONCOMITANT REMOVAL OF VITREOUS
67028 INTRAVITREAL INJECTION OF A PHARMACOLOGIC AGENT (SEPARATE PROCEDURE)
67900 REPAIR OF BROW PTOSIS (SUPRACILIARY, MID-FOREHEAD OR CORONAL APPROACH)
67901 REPAIR OF BLEPHAROPTOSIS; FRONTALIS MUSCLE TECHNIQUE WITH SUTURE OR OTHER MATERIAL (EG, BANKED FASCIA)
67902 REPAIR OF BLEPHAROPTOSIS; FRONTALIS MUSCLE TECHNIQUE WITH AUTOLOGOUS FASCIAL SLING (INCLUDES OBTAINING FASCIA)
67903 REPAIR OF BLEPHAROPTOSIS; (TARSO) LEVATOR RESECTION OR ADVANCEMENT, INTERNAL APPROACH
67904 REPAIR OF BLEPHAROPTOSIS; (TARSO) LEVATOR RESECTION OR ADVANCEMENT, EXTERNAL APPROACH
67906 REPAIR OF BLEPHAROPTOSIS; SUPERIOR RECTUS TECHNIQUE WITH FASCIAL SLING (INCLUDES OBTAINING FASCIA)
67908 REPAIR OF BLEPHAROPTOSIS; CONJUNCTIVO-TARSO-MULLER'S MUSCLE-LEVATOR RESECTION (EG, FASANELLA-SERVAT TYPE)
67917 REPAIR OF ECTROPION; EXTENSIVE (EG, TARSAL STRIP OPERATIONS)
67921 REPAIR OF ENTROPION; SUTURE
67922 REPAIR OF ENTROPION; THERMOCAUTERIZATION
67923 REPAIR OF ENTROPION; EXCISION TARSAL WEDGE
68841 INSERTION OF DRUG-ELUTING IMPLANT, INCLUDING PUNCTAL DILATION WHEN PERFORMED, INTO LACRIMAL CANALICULUS, EACH
0449T INSERTION OF AQUEOUS DRAINAGE DEVICE, WITHOUT EXTRAOCULAR RESERVOIR, INTERNAL APPROACH, INTO THE SUBCONJUNCTIVAL SPACE; INITIAL DEVICE
0671T INSERTION OF ANTERIOR SEGMENT AQUEOUS DRAINAGE DEVICE INTO THE TRABECULAR MESHWORK, WITHOUT EXTERNAL RESERVOIR, AND WITHOUT CONCOMITANT CATARACT REMOVAL, ONE OR MORE
0699T INJECTION, POSTERIOR CHAMBER OF EYE, MEDICATION

Group 2

(4 Codes)
Group 2 Paragraph

All claims submitted with the following HCPCS codes which represent replacements for external components necessary for the function of cochlear implants must identify the side of the body where the existing cochlear implant is located. Otherwise the initial replacement part claim and all subsequent replacement part claims for an individual beneficiary will be rejected.

Group 2 Codes
Code Description
L8624 LITHIUM ION BATTERY FOR USE WITH COCHLEAR IMPLANT OR AUDITORY OSSEOINTEGRATED DEVICE SPEECH PROCESSOR, EAR LEVEL, REPLACEMENT, EACH
L8627 COCHLEAR IMPLANT, EXTERNAL SPEECH PROCESSOR, COMPONENT, REPLACEMENT
L8628 COCHLEAR IMPLANT, EXTERNAL CONTROLLER COMPONENT, REPLACEMENT
L8629 TRANSMITTING COIL AND CABLE, INTEGRATED, FOR USE WITH COCHLEAR IMPLANT DEVICE, REPLACEMENT
N/A

CPT/HCPCS Modifiers

Group 1

(2 Codes)
Group 1 Paragraph

N/A

Group 1 Codes
Code Description
LT LEFT SIDE (USED TO IDENTIFY PROCEDURES PERFORMED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BODY)
RT RIGHT SIDE (USED TO IDENTIFY PROCEDURES PERFORMED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BODY)
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ICD-10-CM Codes that Support Medical Necessity

Group 1

Group 1 Paragraph

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Group 1 Codes

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ICD-10-CM Codes that DO NOT Support Medical Necessity

Group 1

Group 1 Paragraph

N/A

Group 1 Codes

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N/A

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Group 1

Group 1 Paragraph

N/A

Group 1 Codes

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Additional ICD-10 Information

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Bill Type Codes

Contractors may specify Bill Types to help providers identify those Bill Types typically used to report this service. Absence of a Bill Type does not guarantee that the article does not apply to that Bill Type. Complete absence of all Bill Types indicates that coverage is not influenced by Bill Type and the article should be assumed to apply equally to all claims.

Code Description
N/A

Revenue Codes

Contractors may specify Revenue Codes to help providers identify those Revenue Codes typically used to report this service. In most instances Revenue Codes are purely advisory. Unless specified in the article, services reported under other Revenue Codes are equally subject to this coverage determination. Complete absence of all Revenue Codes indicates that coverage is not influenced by Revenue Code and the article should be assumed to apply equally to all Revenue Codes.

Code Description
N/A

Other Coding Information

Group 1

Group 1 Paragraph

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Group 1 Codes

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Coding Table Information

Excluded CPT/HCPCS Codes - Table Format
Code Descriptor Generic Name Descriptor Brand Name Exclusion Effective Date Exclusion End Date Reason for Exclusion
N/A N/A
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Non-Excluded CPT/HCPCS Ended Codes - Table Format
Code Descriptor Generic Name Descriptor Brand Name Exclusion Effective Date Exclusion End Date Reason for Exclusion
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Revision History Information

Revision History Date Revision History Number Revision History Explanation
01/01/2022 R3

Under CPT/HCPCS Codes Group 1: Codes deleted 0191T and added 66989, 66991, 68841, 0671T and 0699T. This revision is due to the 2022 Annual CPT®/HCPCS Code Update and becomes effective on 1/1/2022.

01/01/2020 R2

Under CPT/HCPCS Codes Group 1: Codes added CPT® codes 66987 and 66988. The code descriptions were revised for CPT® codes 66982 and 66984. This revision is due to the Annual CPT®/HCPCS Code Update and becomes effective on 1/1/2020.

10/03/2019 R1

Under CPT/HCPCS Modifiers added modifiers LT and RT.

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Associated Documents

Medicare BPM Ch 15.50.2 SAD Determinations
Medicare BPM Ch 15.50.2
Related Local Coverage Documents
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Related National Coverage Documents
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SAD Process URL 1
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SAD Process URL 2
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Statutory Requirements URLs
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Rules and Regulations URLs
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CMS Manual Explanations URLs
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Other URLs
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Public Versions
Updated On Effective Dates Status
12/27/2021 01/01/2022 - N/A Currently in Effect You are here
Some older versions have been archived. Please visit the MCD Archive Site to retrieve them.

Keywords

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