Kedge THE SIGNED BRIEF · NO. 015 · FREE
BLUE CROSS COMMERCIAL · BCN COMMERCIAL · MICHIGAN

The SA modifier arrives September 1.

A billing-code change small enough to miss and expensive enough to matter. It applies to Blue Cross commercial and BCN commercial claims; Medicare Plus Blue and BCN Advantage are excluded.

BRIEF · CITED INCIDENT-TO × BCBSM COMMERCIAL
From September 1, every incident-to claim carries modifier SA.

For dates of service on or after September 1, 2026, professional incident-to claims require modifier SA. Limited-licensed clinicians append HO or AJ as well. Provider types never eligible for incident-to billing do not use SA: behavior technicians in ABA, community health workers and peer supporters, dieticians, occupational and physical therapy assistants, and RNs. Claims continue to pay at the submitting provider’s rate through February 28, 2027. Value-based reimbursement ends for all incident-to claims on September 1.

WHAT TO DO
 Update billing templates so SA attaches to every incident-to claim dated September 1 or later
 Add HO or AJ for each limited-licensed clinician, on top of SA
 List your never-eligible staff types; their claims take no SA
 Calendar February 28, 2027: the submitting-rate window closes the next day
  Reviewed and signed, Dr. Elizabeth M. Teklinski, PhD, LPC, NCC, NPT-C SIGNED 07 · 2026

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