I have a question regarding the use of a modifier 57.
Scenario:
Patient is admitted as an inpatient to the hospital on March 1st. Cardiothoracic surgery is called for a consult because patient has a pneumothorax. Chest tube is placed by cardiothoracic surgery on March 1st after initial visit on March 1st. Cardiothoracic surgery service continues follow up care each day. The surgeon see's the patient on March 10th and explains to the patient that he will need surgery if the chest x-ray does not show any change the following morning. The patient did not agree to go forward with surgery at that time on March 10th. The patient wanted to wait until the next morning to make a decision for surgery. Patient is seen the following morning, March 11th and the chest x-ray did not change. The surgeon and the patient both decide to go forward with surgery on March 11th. Can a modifier 57 be appended to the E & M code billed on March 11th which is the same day as the surgery. Surgery is performed on March 11th and was billed using CPT 32655.
Please advise.
Thank you.
Scenario:
Patient is admitted as an inpatient to the hospital on March 1st. Cardiothoracic surgery is called for a consult because patient has a pneumothorax. Chest tube is placed by cardiothoracic surgery on March 1st after initial visit on March 1st. Cardiothoracic surgery service continues follow up care each day. The surgeon see's the patient on March 10th and explains to the patient that he will need surgery if the chest x-ray does not show any change the following morning. The patient did not agree to go forward with surgery at that time on March 10th. The patient wanted to wait until the next morning to make a decision for surgery. Patient is seen the following morning, March 11th and the chest x-ray did not change. The surgeon and the patient both decide to go forward with surgery on March 11th. Can a modifier 57 be appended to the E & M code billed on March 11th which is the same day as the surgery. Surgery is performed on March 11th and was billed using CPT 32655.
Please advise.
Thank you.