Wiki Modifier 78

[bundydelly]

Hello all,

I do anesthesia coding, and there seems to be a lot of disagreement on modifiers 78 and 59. For instance, a patient goes in for a colonoscopy and is discovered to have intestinal blockage and hemorrhage. Patient returns to the OR for partial colectomy. Our boss says we are to use mod -59, myself and another coder says it should be mod -78.

This isn't the exact scenario, but VERY similar. Can you please advise? TIA


Brandi McKessy
CPC-A

 

[twizzle]

Hello all,

I do anesthesia coding, and there seems to be a lot of disagreement on modifiers 78 and 59. For instance, a patient goes in for a colonoscopy and is discovered to have intestinal blockage and hemorrhage. Patient returns to the OR for partial colectomy. Our boss says we are to use mod -59, myself and another coder says it should be mod -78.

This isn't the exact scenario, but VERY similar. Can you please advise? TIA


Brandi McKessy
CPC-A

Endoscopies don't have a global period so no modifier is necessary. You don't say if the colectomy is the same day as the colonoscopy though. If it is, that makes a difference.