Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert

Use -76, -77 Modifiers for Repeat Closed Reductions

Published on Fri Apr 30, 2004

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If the same physician has to go back and perform a closed reduction a second time during the global period, use the -76 modifier (Repeat procedure by same physician) with the fracture care code, says consultant Annette Grady with Eide Bailly in Bismarck, ND. But if a different physician has to reset the same fracture, you should use the -77 modifier (Repeat procedure by another physician) instead, says Grady.

If you treat the same fracture twice, "there would have to be substantiation of additional trauma" in the chart, says Alameda, CA podiatrist Anthony Poggio. "Once you closed it, six weeks later you're not going to have to reduce it again" unless something's gone wrong, he explains.

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