ercoder65
Guest
I have a chart where an EGD was scheduled on a patient, and the staff appended a modifier 74 to the code (43235). The OP report stated that the scope was extended down to the duodenum, but due to food content, the gastric body was not well visualized. I am not real familiar with modifier 74, but to me, the EGD was complete because the scope was extended as far as what is normally described in the procedure; because the patient decided to eat in the 12 hour period prior to the surgery should not be a penalty to the surgeon even though he couldn't view the stomach walls. Should I remove the 74 from this facility charge? Any opinion is greatly appreciated.
TIA
Rich
TIA
Rich