Go Back   AAPC Medical Coding & Billing Forums > Medical Coding > Modifiers

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 07-19-2012, 08:08 PM
rksaleh rksaleh is offline
New
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 6
rksaleh is on a distinguished road
Default Medicare Modifier for Global Period

A hospitalist bills Medicare for 36589, then Medicare denies payment on every 9928X for the next 10 days due to global period on 36589.
Does anyone have advise on what modifier Medicare is looking for on the 9928X codes in order to get them paid during this global period?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-20-2012, 08:56 AM
Donna T Donna T is offline
Guru
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 114
Donna T is on a distinguished road
Default

Modifier -59 would be incorrect as 9928X is an ER code and not a procedure code. Was the patient seen for problems related to the procedure or for unrelated reasons and was it the same hospitalist who is billing the 9928X? If the patient is being seen for services related to the procedure than it is included in the global. If it is for other reasons then you'd bill using a -24 modifier. If it was a different physician seeing the patient for the 9928X then I believe you would use a -55 modifier. Anyone else have any other ideas?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-20-2012, 10:33 AM
payalbhatt's Avatar
payalbhatt payalbhatt is offline
Contributor
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 23
payalbhatt is on a distinguished road
Default

I need CPT book.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-22-2012, 03:25 PM
rksaleh rksaleh is offline
New
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 6
rksaleh is on a distinguished road
Default

I'm sorry! I indicated the wrong "post op" code that we are trying to get paid for! Here's the correct scenario.
Our physician bills for 36589 (for which Medicare has a 10 day global period/post op period) for a hospital inpatient. The same physician sees the patient numerous days in the hospital following this procedure and bills 9923X (subsequent hospital care).
I believe our coders have tried modifiers: 79, 24 & 59.
Any advise?
Thank you to all!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-22-2012, 04:55 PM
mitchellde's Avatar
mitchellde mitchellde is offline
True Blue
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Columbia, MO
Posts: 6,957
mitchellde will become famous soon enoughmitchellde will become famous soon enough
Default

79 and 59 cannot be used on E&M codes. the hospital aftercare is included in the global and unless you have a different reason for seeing the patient as supported by the documentation and a different unrelated diagnosis code there is not you can do. The 24 is the modifier to use if you do have an unrelated dx code.
__________________

Debra A. Mitchell, MSPH, CPC-H
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-25-2012, 01:24 PM
rksaleh rksaleh is offline
New
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 6
rksaleh is on a distinguished road
Default

Debra, thank you very much for your response! Helps me a bunch.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-29-2012, 06:10 AM
Oceanlivin Oceanlivin is offline
Guru
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Coastal Coders
Posts: 209
Oceanlivin is on a distinguished road
Default

Sounds to me like procedural follow up care. If so then it's not billable during the global.
It also sounds like your coders are just coding to get pd by throwing all those modifiers on there and resubmitting the claim. Do your coders have AAPC certifications?
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off




Disclaimer: Although AAPC staff members will monitor these forums periodically, we cannot be responsible for the information posted herein, nor guarantee its accuracy. Our members may discuss various subjects related to medical coding, but none of the information should replace the independent judgment of a physician for any given health issue. Please note that the opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of AAPC.

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:33 AM.

AAPC - Top

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.1
Copyright ©2000 - 2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2011, AAPCAd Management plugin by RedTyger