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Urology Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Remember 78 for Sling Revisions

Published on Sun Jun 14, 2009

Question: A patient had a sling procedure (CPT 57288 ). She then needed a revision (CPT 57287 ) during the global period of the initial sling procedure. Is this billable? And if so, does it need a modifier? Washington Subscriber Answer: You can, and should, report the revision. Youll use 57288 (Sling operation for stress incontinence [e.g., fascia or synthetic]) for the original procedure, as you noted. For the revision within the 90-day global period, report 57287 (Removal or revision of sling for stress incontinence [e.g., fascia or synthetic]) for the second procedure. Append modifier 78 (Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period) to 57287 to indicate that your urologist is correcting a complication associated with the original surgery. This is a fairly common clinical occurrence. Many times the urologist must return the patient to the [...]
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