Wiki E/M Modifier for Payment During Global

[graceroni13]

One doctor evaluated and treated the patient with a closed reduction of an elbow. After the surgery it was determined that the injury was more complicated and the patient would need further evaluation and surgery. Patient was referred to a different physician within the same group practice during the post op period who specializes in these more complex elbow injuries. Patient was evaluated in the office and decision was made for further surgery on the elbow(again, during the post op period). He decided to do a radial head replacement, lateral collateral ligament repair, anterior capsulodesis, and ORIF of anteromedial coronoid fracture.

How do you code for the E/M for the second doctor since he made the decision for surgery on the same body part?

 

[emcee101]

Since this is for the same problem being treated by a physician in the same practice you are stuck with 99024 - Postoperative follow-up visit, normally included in the surgical package, to indicate that an evaluation and management service was performed during a postoperative period for a reason(s) related to the original procedure