The professional component of a charge covers the cost of the physician’s professional services only. The technical component of a charge addresses the use of equipment, facilities, non-physician medical staff, supplies, etc.

What does the technical component mean?

The technical component (TC) represents the cost of the equipment, supplies and personnel to perform the procedure. It is identified by appending modifier TC to the CPT or HCPCS code. • A global service includes both the professional and technical component.

What is the professional component of a CPT code?

The Professional Component is the physician or other health care professional supervision and interpretation of a procedure that is personally furnished to an individual patient, results in a written narrative report to be included in the patient’s medical record, and directly contributes to the patient’s diagnosis and …

What is included in the technical component of radiological services?

The technical component of a service includes the provision of all equipment, supplies, personnel, and costs related to the performance of the exam. To claim only the technical portion of a service, append modifier TC, technical component, to the appropriate CPT code.

What is the technical components of a procedure?

Technical component means the part of a procedure or service that relates to the equipment set-up and techni- cian’s time, or the part of a procedure and service payment that recognizes the equipment cost and technician time.

What modifier is appended to report the technical component of a procedure?

Modifier TC
You should append modifier 26, “professional component” to a procedure code when you perform only the professional component of the service. Modifier TC, “technical component” designates provision of the technical component of the service.

How does modifier 26 affect payment?

This is why reporting modifier 26 on the same procedure code for the interpreting doctor will be critical in demonstrating your provider’s specific role in the service performed. As such, reporting the 26 modifier correctly decreases your likelihood of incorrect payer denials and reduces delayed payment.

What’s the difference between professional and technical components?

The Professional Component (PC), (supervision and interpretation) is reported with modifier 26, and the Technical Component (TC) is reported with modifier TC. The term “professional/technical split” is used to reference a Global Service assigned a PC/TC Indicator 1 that may be “split” into a Professional Component and a Technical Component.

How are professional and technical components billed together?

If the provider who interprets the film also owns the equipment, a global service is submitted and the professional and technical components are billed together (eg, the appropriate CPT code is reported without either modifier 26 or TC appended). The global procedure code is submitted at full fee.

What is the professional component of a CPT?

The professional component is provided by the physician, and may include supervision, interpretation, and a written report. To claim only the professional portion of a service, CPT Appendix A (“Modifiers”) instructs you to append modifier 26, professional component, to the appropriate CPT code.

What are the modifier codes for professional components?

The modifier codes that distinguish these services are ‘26’ for professional components, and ‘TC’ for technical components. The explanation per CMS, in a nutshell, is this: