Which modifier is used to indicate the professional component of a service billed separately?

• A. TC
• B. 26
• C. GT
• D. 59

Answer: (B)

The key idea is signaling which part of a split service you’re billing for. When a service has both a professional component (the interpretation or expert analysis by a qualified clinician) and a technical component (the use of equipment, facility, and technical work), modifiers tell payers which portion you’re charging for. The modifier that marks the professional component is the one you add to the CPT code to indicate that the clinician’s interpretation or professional service is being billed separately. The technical component modifier TC would be used for the facility/technical part, not the professional part. Other modifiers like GT relate to telemedicine, and 59 is used for distinct procedures that are not bundled together, but they don’t identify the professional component. Therefore, the modifier that indicates the professional component is the one that should be appended to show the professional portion billed separately.