Which modifier would you use to indicate a service was reduced or eliminated?

Modifier 53 is specifically utilized to indicate that a procedure was discontinued due to extenuating circumstances or the patient's condition. This modifier communicates that the full service was intended, but for legitimate reasons, it could not be completed. When coding procedures that were started but could not be finished for clinical reasons, using this modifier helps convey that there was an interruption in the service provided, ensuring that the reasons for not completing the procedure are clear to both payers and healthcare providers.

In contrast, Modifier 22 pertains to increased procedural services, indicating that the complexity or time involved in a procedure was greater than typically expected. Modifier 51 is used to signal multiple procedures performed during the same session, while Modifier 24 denotes an unrelated evaluation and management service by the same physician during a postoperative period. These modifiers serve different purposes and do not directly address situations where a service was reduced or stopped.