A modifier provides the means by which the reporting physician or provider can indicate that a service or procedure that has been performed has been altered by some specific circumstance but not changed in its definition or code.
Level I modifiers are codes and descriptors copyrighted by the American Medical Association's current procedural terminology (CPT).
Level II modifiers are codes and descriptors approved and maintained jointly by the alpha-numeric editorial panel (consisting of CMS, the Health Insurance Association of America, and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association).