To communicate that a physician is providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (HPSA), the coder should append modifier:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Modifier AQ is used to indicate that a service was provided in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) that is not automatically identified by Medicare through the processing system. This modifier helps ensure that services rendered in these areas are properly recognized and potentially eligible for additional reimbursement or consideration.

To Communicate That a Physician Is Providing a Service in an Unlisted