Wiki Need modifier 78 help!

[dpumford]

Hello~I have a question and I HOPE someone can help me out.....

I have a pt who had a endovascular AAA repair. One month later he develeoped Sermo's in both groins. The the doctor did,10160, aspiration of seroma in the office. Because mod 78 states "return to OR" I don't know for sure if this modifier would be appropriate to use. I can not find any information on what is the correct way to do this.

Has anyone else ever ran into this senario before

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks

 

[HNISHA]

78 mod

I would go with "78" modifier since, the complication related to the endovascular AAA repair.

Abdul Saleem CPC

 

[Cary1229]

clarification

Also remember modifier 78 is only when it is during the postoperative period...

What I am not clear with is for example pt has a cystourethroscopy and on the same day while in recovery he needs to be brought back to or due to complications even though the 2nd procedure is being billed with modifier 78...will Medicare reimburse both procedures?

 

[HNISHA]

78 mod

For AAA procedures the global perior would be '90' days (Please check the CPT and confirm in the Physician Fee Schedule - MFSDB).

However, for the cystourethroscopy procedures the global period would be '0' days hence, the 78 modifier will not apply.

78 modifier will apply if it falls with in the global period.

I hope am clear on this!

Thanks,
Abdul Saleem CPC