Repeat Procedure by Different Provider

Indicates a procedure was legitimately repeated by a different physician or qualified provider, explaining to payers that the second claim is not a duplicate.

Customize your policy alerts

Sign up for cpt_modifier 77 policy alerts

Get alerted when payer policies referencing 77 are released or updated.

Monitor payer policy activity

Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition specifies it is appended when the repeat is performed by another provider, and professional sources (AAPC, coding resources) emphasize that Modifier 77 is used when the repeating provider is different from the original. It is distinct from Modifier 76, which denotes a repeat by the same provider, and should not be used on E/M codes. Payers commonly require supporting documentation; without the modifier a repeat procedure may be treated as a duplicate and denied, and the modifier is not intended to override NCCI edits. Sources: AMA CPT guidance, AAPC, codingAhead, CMS guidance, payer policies (Amerigroup, Molina).

Reimbursement effects vary by payer. Some plans (for example, Amerigroup Medicare Advantage) reimburse nonsurgical repeated procedures at 100% of the fee schedule or contracted rate and may reimburse the surgical component at 100% for up to two repeated surgeries, provided documentation justifies the repeat. Payers generally expect clinical documentation that explains why a different provider performed the repeat and may deny claims that lack sufficient justification, or when the modifier is used in disallowed situations (e.g., appended to E/M codes, repeated more than once, or applied to pre/postoperative components). Modifier 77 does not nullify NCCI editing and is not a mechanism to bypass coding edits.

Repeat Procedure by Different Provider

Indicates a procedure was legitimately repeated by a different physician or qualified provider, explaining to payers that the second claim is not a duplicate.

Customize your policy alerts

Sign up for cpt_modifier 77 policy alerts

Get alerted when payer policies referencing 77 are released or updated.

Monitor payer policy activity

Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

When to Use

Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently repeats or re-reads the same procedure/service) to indicate it is not a duplicate.
Do NOT use modifier 77 when the same provider repeats the procedure (use modifier 76 in that circumstance), and do NOT append 77 to Evaluation & Management (E/M) codes; it is not intended to bypass NCCI edits.
Expect payers to require supporting documentation showing the clinical reason the second provider repeated the procedure (timing, why the repeat was medically necessary, and that a different provider performed it); without justification claims may be denied.
Be aware some payers limit reimbursement rules (for example, surgical components may be reimbursed only up to two repeated surgeries and certain payers specify when full fee-schedule payment applies), so check payer-specific policies for restrictions before billing.
Use modifier 77 to prevent automatic duplicate denials for legitimately repeated services (e.g., separate-provider ECG interpretation or repeat radiograph for a reduction), but do not rely on it to override coding edits or rules — the modifier explains clinical context and must be documented.

Clinical Scenarios

ED radiology repeat: A patient has a shoulder X‑ray (CPT 73030) obtained and interpreted by Radiologist A in the emergency department. The on‑call orthopedist repeats the same shoulder X‑ray later the same visit to guide reduction; the orthopedist’s claim for CPT 73030 is submitted with modifier 77 to indicate the procedure was legitimately repeated by a different provider and to avoid a duplicate denial. (Source examples: AAPC, codingahead.)
Cardiology tracing re‑read: A patient’s 12‑lead ECG is interpreted by Provider A in the morning. Later the same day, Provider B performs an independent interpretation/second reading of the ECG tracing for a distinct clinical reason; Provider B submits CPT 93000 with modifier 77 to show the repeat procedure was performed by another provider and support payment. (Source example: codingahead.)
General reminder scenario: When a different physician or other qualified health care professional repeats a previously performed non‑E/M procedure during the same encounter (for example, a repeat imaging or diagnostic test needed for clinical management), append modifier 77 to the repeated procedure code to document that a different provider performed the repeat—do not use modifier 77 on E/M services and ensure clinical documentation supports the repeat to satisfy payer policies. (Sources: AMA, AAPC, Amerigroup guidance.)

References

Code	Name
22	Increased Procedural Services
23	Unusual Anesthesia Requirement
24	Unrelated Postoperative E/M Service
25	Significant, Separately Identifiable E/M Service
26	Professional Component Billing
27	Separate Same‑Day Outpatient E/M
32	Mandated Third-Party Services
33	Preventive Service (ACA)
47	Anesthesia Provided by Surgeon
50	Bilateral Procedure Billing
51	Multiple Procedures (Modifier -51)
52	Reduced Services (Provider Discretion)
53	Discontinued Procedure (Provider)
54	Surgical Care Only
55	Postoperative Management Only
56	Preoperative Management Only
57	Decision for Surgery
58	staged or related postop procedure
59	Distinct Procedural Service
62	Two Surgeons/Co‑Surgeons

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

When to Use

Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently repeats or re-reads the same procedure/service) to indicate it is not a duplicate.
Do NOT use modifier 77 when the same provider repeats the procedure (use modifier 76 in that circumstance), and do NOT append 77 to Evaluation & Management (E/M) codes; it is not intended to bypass NCCI edits.
Expect payers to require supporting documentation showing the clinical reason the second provider repeated the procedure (timing, why the repeat was medically necessary, and that a different provider performed it); without justification claims may be denied.
Be aware some payers limit reimbursement rules (for example, surgical components may be reimbursed only up to two repeated surgeries and certain payers specify when full fee-schedule payment applies), so check payer-specific policies for restrictions before billing.
Use modifier 77 to prevent automatic duplicate denials for legitimately repeated services (e.g., separate-provider ECG interpretation or repeat radiograph for a reduction), but do not rely on it to override coding edits or rules — the modifier explains clinical context and must be documented.

Clinical Scenarios

ED radiology repeat: A patient has a shoulder X‑ray (CPT 73030) obtained and interpreted by Radiologist A in the emergency department. The on‑call orthopedist repeats the same shoulder X‑ray later the same visit to guide reduction; the orthopedist’s claim for CPT 73030 is submitted with modifier 77 to indicate the procedure was legitimately repeated by a different provider and to avoid a duplicate denial. (Source examples: AAPC, codingahead.)
Cardiology tracing re‑read: A patient’s 12‑lead ECG is interpreted by Provider A in the morning. Later the same day, Provider B performs an independent interpretation/second reading of the ECG tracing for a distinct clinical reason; Provider B submits CPT 93000 with modifier 77 to show the repeat procedure was performed by another provider and support payment. (Source example: codingahead.)
General reminder scenario: When a different physician or other qualified health care professional repeats a previously performed non‑E/M procedure during the same encounter (for example, a repeat imaging or diagnostic test needed for clinical management), append modifier 77 to the repeated procedure code to document that a different provider performed the repeat—do not use modifier 77 on E/M services and ensure clinical documentation supports the repeat to satisfy payer policies. (Sources: AMA, AAPC, Amerigroup guidance.)

References

Code	Name
22	Increased Procedural Services
23	Unusual Anesthesia Requirement
24	Unrelated Postoperative E/M Service
25	Significant, Separately Identifiable E/M Service
26	Professional Component Billing
27	Separate Same‑Day Outpatient E/M
32	Mandated Third-Party Services
33	Preventive Service (ACA)
47	Anesthesia Provided by Surgeon
50	Bilateral Procedure Billing
51	Multiple Procedures (Modifier -51)
52	Reduced Services (Provider Discretion)
53	Discontinued Procedure (Provider)
54	Surgical Care Only
55	Postoperative Management Only
56	Preoperative Management Only
57	Decision for Surgery
58	staged or related postop procedure
59	Distinct Procedural Service
62	Two Surgeons/Co‑Surgeons

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

OpenPayer

Repeat Procedure by Different Provider

Sign up for cpt_modifier 77 policy alerts

OpenPayer

Repeat Procedure by Different Provider

Sign up for cpt_modifier 77 policy alerts

When to Use

Clinical Scenarios

Related Modifiers

References

When to Use

Clinical Scenarios

Related Modifiers

References

Repeat Procedure by Different Provider

Sign up for cpt_modifier 77 policy alerts

Repeat Procedure by Different Provider

Sign up for cpt_modifier 77 policy alerts

When to Use

Clinical Scenarios

Related Modifiers

When should modifier 77 be used instead of modifier 76?

Can modifier 77 be appended to Evaluation & Management (E/M) services?

What documentation do payers generally require when modifier 77 is used?

Does modifier 77 override NCCI edits or payer duplicate-denial rules?

How do reimbursement effects vary when using modifier 77?

References

When to Use

Clinical Scenarios

Related Modifiers

When should modifier 77 be used instead of modifier 76?

Can modifier 77 be appended to Evaluation & Management (E/M) services?

What documentation do payers generally require when modifier 77 is used?

Does modifier 77 override NCCI edits or payer duplicate-denial rules?

How do reimbursement effects vary when using modifier 77?

References