Specific Modifiers for Distinct Procedural Services (XE, XP, XS, XU) (new)
Modifier 59, distinct procedural service, indicates procedures or services that are separate or distinct from other same-day services. Effective January 1, 2015, new XE, XP, XS, and XU modifiers may be used instead of modifier 59 to provide a more accurate means of describing why certain procedures with the same date of service are actually significant and distinct from each other.
These new modifiers are described below.
- XE Separate Encounter – A service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter.
- XS Separate Structure – A service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ or structure.
- XP Separate Practitioner – A service that is distinct because it was performed by a different practitioner.
- XU Unusual Non-Overlapping Service – The use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service
