What Is the CY2026 Efficiency Adjustment and How Does It Impact Internal Medicine Billing?

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The CY2026 Efficiency Adjustment is one of the important changes introduced under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Effective January 1, 2026, CMS finalized a 2.5% reduction to the work RVUs of most non-time-based services . However, the adjustment does not apply broadly to every service billed by an internal medicine practice. Time-based services, including many evaluation and management (E/M) and care management services, are excluded. For internal medicine practices, understanding which services are affected is important because the adjustment can change reimbursement for certain procedures and ancillary services even when claims continue to process normally. For a detailed overview, practices can review What Is the CY2026 Efficiency Adjustment and How Does It Impact Internal Medicine Billing? . What Is the CY2026 Efficiency Adjustment? CMS finalized the efficiency adjustment as part of the CY2026 Physician Fee Schedule. The policy applies a -2.5% adjustment to the work comp...
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Correct Use of Modifiers for Podiatry Services

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Improper use of Modifiers for Podiatry Services can be the cause of claim denials just as not using a modifier can be. When using modifiers, make sure you clearly understand what the modifier entails. Sometimes, there are related services that the physician is performing, global periods to contend with, etc. Modifiers will clarify extenuating circumstances, which should allow for payment when they otherwise may not.

If the insurance company denies a claim and you rebill it by simply choosing another modifier and hoping that is the correct one, this will usually end up creating additional problems. Insurance companies may have a time limit as to how long you can file an appeal. If you continually rebill incorrectly, then by the time you send in the claims and subsequently get denied again, you may run out of the appeal window. The appeal window generally starts when you submit the initial claim. Medicare explanation of medical benefits (EOMBs) will indicate whether you can appeal a claim rather than rebill, depending on the error.

There are three specific evaluation and management (E/M) modifiers. These are the -24, -25, and -57 modifiers. Only use these modifiers with E/M services. If you append them to any other service such as a diagnostic study or procedure, the carrier will automatically deny your claim.

Modifiers for Podiatry Services are:

Modifier 24:

Unrelated Evaluation and Management by the same physician during a postoperative period. When an unrelated E/M service is performed by the same physician during the postoperative (global period -10 or 90-day postoperative period) then append modifier 24 to the E/M procedure code. Make sure that we are not assigning the same diagnosis code which is the reason for the surgery which was performed earlier, and then there would be the chance of the claim getting denied.

To know more about the Correct Use of Modifiers for Podiatry Services, click here: https://bit.ly/3KhgRMc Contact us at info@medicalbillersandcoders.com/ 888-357-3226.

Location: United States

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