CPT modifier for reduced services. Under certain circumstances a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the physician’s election. Under these circumstances the service provided can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of the modifier -52, signifying that the service is reduced. This provides a means of reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service. This modifier affects reimbursement, but there will be no effect on the physician’s fee profile in the computer data. It is not necessary to attach a report to the claim when using this modifier because it indicates a reduced fee. When a physician performs a procedure but does not charge for the service such as a postoperative follow-up visit that is included in a global service, remember to use code 99024. Some physicians prefer to bill the insurance carrier the full amount and accept what the carrier pays as payment in full. In such cases, a modifier would not be used. If only part of a procedure is performed and the physician feels a reduction in the service is warranted, to develop a reduced fee, try calculating the reduced service by time. Calculate the amount (cost) per minute of the complete procedure by dividing the amount (cost) by the usual time it takes to complete the procedure. To determine how long the reduced procedure took, multiply the amount (cost) per minute by the time it took to do the reduced procedure.