Physical Status Modifier (For Anesthesia)

Many offices are not using the modifier to tell the insurance company the health of the patient.  If you are not receiving payment use the correct modifier for each patient.

Anesthesia procedures have their own special set of modifiers, which are simple and correspond to the condition of the patient as the anesthesia is administered. These codes are:

• P1 – a normal, healthy patient
• P2 – a patient with mild systemic disease
• P3 – a patient with severe systemic disease
• P4 – a patient with severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life
• P5 – a moribund patient who is not expected to survive without the operation
• P6 – a declared brain-dead patient whose organs are being removed for donor purposes