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Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Cyst on Eyelid

Published on Sun Oct 01, 2000

Question: A patient who just had cataract surgery came in with a cyst on her eyelid. Our doctor did an incision and drainage (10060) on it. What is the most appropriate modifier for a minor unrelated procedure during the postoperative period?

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Answer: According to CPT 2000, modifier -79 (unrelated procedure or service by the same physician during the same postoperative period) should be used when the same physician performs an unrelated procedure or service during the postoperative period. Because the patient was within the global surgical period for the cataract surgery and during that time had an unrelated procedure the incision and drainage of the cyst on her eyelid modifier -79 should be appended to the 10060 code for the incision and drainage of the cyst.

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