Q6 Modifier
A HCPCS billing modifier indicating a service was furnished by a substitute physician under a fee-for-time (locum tenens) arrangement. It lets a practice bill under the regular physician's identifier while a temporary clinician covers, subject to Medicare time limits.
What is the Q6 modifier?
The Q6 modifier is a Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) modifier used to indicate that a service was furnished by a substitute physician under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement, commonly known as locum tenens. It signals on a claim that a temporary clinician, not the usual treating physician, actually delivered the care.
Appending Q6 lets a practice bill under the regular physician's identifier while that physician is temporarily absent, provided the arrangement meets Medicare's conditions, including time limits on how long the substitute can cover.
Why does the Q6 modifier matter for billing?
The modifier preserves continuity of billing and reimbursement when a physician is out due to illness, leave, or a vacancy, so a practice does not lose revenue during the coverage period. Without it, services rendered by a substitute could be billed incorrectly.
Because its use is bounded by specific eligibility and duration rules, accurate application matters. Misusing Q6, such as exceeding the allowed coverage period or applying it to ineligible arrangements, can lead to denials or compliance exposure for the practice.
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