Wiki Modifier 78 - If a patient has the procedure

[TishCpc]

If a patient has the procedure 21087 on 12/5/2014 in the office and then returned again on 1/11/2015, should I use a 78 modifier on the 1/11/2015 dos?

 

[thomas7331]

Modifier 78 is for a return to the O.R., so would not be appropriate if the second procedure was also done in the office. If the second procedure was staged/related or planned in advance, 58 would be more appropriate.

 

[TishCpc]

Thank you so much for answering, both procedure were done in the office but i need to remove the 78 modifiers from the January date to accurately bill.

 

[thomas7331]

So, if January procedure was in the office and during the global period, it can be billed with a 58 modifier (if it meets the definitions of a staged procedure) or a 79 modifier (if it's unrelated to the original procedure), otherwise it would fall into the global package and not be separately billable. Would need to review the actual documentation to know which situation applies. Hope this helps some.