Modifier 73- Discontinued Outpatient Procedure Prior to Anesthesia Administration

Modifier 73 is used when an outpatient hospital or ambulatory surgery center discontinues a procedure before anesthesia is administered.

What is Modifier 73?

Modifier 73 tells insurance payers that a scheduled outpatient procedure was canceled after preparation began but before anesthesia was administered.

When to Use Modifier 73

• The procedure is performed in an outpatient hospital or ASC
• The procedure is discontinued before anesthesia
• Patient safety or unexpected circumstances require cancellation
• Documentation supports discontinuation

Billing Example

A patient is prepared for an outpatient surgical procedure, but the procedure is canceled before anesthesia is administered due to an unexpected medical condition. Modifier 73 may be appended to the claim.

Documentation Tips

• Document the reason the procedure was discontinued
• Record that anesthesia was not administered
• Include patient preparation details
• Maintain complete facility documentation

Common Denial Reasons

• Anesthesia administration not documented correctly
• Procedure does not qualify for Modifier 73
• Missing documentation explaining discontinuation
• Incorrect modifier selection