HCPCS Level II modifier
Modifier PB
Modifier PB is a HCPCS Level II modifier. CMS describes it as: Surgical or other invasive procedure on wrong patient.
Source: CMS HCPCS Level II, October 2026 file dated September 23, 2026. Publisher page
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- Modifier
- PB
- Type
- HCPCS Level II modifier, maintained by CMS
- CMS description
- Surgical or other invasive procedure on wrong patient
- Claim form
- CMS-1500 item 24D, up to four modifiers per line. 837P SV101-3 to SV101-6.
- Guidance
- CMS HCPCS quarterly update
Related modifiers
- PCWrong surgery or other invasive procedure on patient
- PASurgical or other invasive procedure on wrong body part
- PDDiagnostic or related non diagnostic item or service provided in a wholly owned or operated entity to a patient who is admitted as an inpatient within 3 days
- P6A declared brain-dead patient whose organs are being removed for donor purposes
- PIPositron emission tomography (PET) or PET/computed tomography (CT) to inform the initial treatment strategy of tumors that are biopsy proven or strongly suspected of being cancerous based on other diagnostic testing
- P5A moribund patient who is not expected to survive without the operation
- PLProgressive addition lenses
- P4A patient with severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life
Related pages
Questions
What does modifier PB mean?
Modifier PB is a HCPCS Level II modifier. CMS describes it as: Surgical or other invasive procedure on wrong patient.
Is modifier PB a CPT or a HCPCS modifier?
PB is a HCPCS Level II modifier from the CMS quarterly HCPCS file. Two-digit numeric modifiers, such as 25 or 59, are CPT modifiers.
Where does modifier PB go on a claim?
On the CMS-1500 it goes in item 24D next to the procedure code. Each line holds up to four modifiers. On an 837P it goes in SV101-3 to SV101-6.
What denial comes back when a modifier is wrong?
A missing or mismatched modifier often comes back as CARC 4. A modifier that was not valid on the date of service comes back as CARC 182. A bundling edit the modifier should have bypassed comes back as CARC 97 or 236.