Can you bill for a staged chest closure after you do an open heart surgery if the chest is unable to be closed at the time of the actual surgery? If so, what CPT codes would you use and is there a modifier to use other than -78 if done in the OR or -58 if not done in OR?
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Wiki Staged chest closure after open heart surgery
- Thread starter lrhodge
- Start date
lisammy
Guru
I would use 13160-58. Secondary closure of surgical wound with a modifier 58 no matter where the service takes place because it is staged.
GIBBERS
Networker
In our Cardiac practice we use CPT 21750-58 for delayed chest closure 
lisigirl
Expert
We use 21750-58 as well. You can also use dx code V58.41
Lisi, CPC
and modifiers -58 and -78 do not depend on whether the patient went back to the OR or not. -58 indicates the 2nd procedure was planned, which this was. When the surgeon left the chest open, he knew he had to go back later to close it making it a planned procedure.
Lisi, CPC
and modifiers -58 and -78 do not depend on whether the patient went back to the OR or not. -58 indicates the 2nd procedure was planned, which this was. When the surgeon left the chest open, he knew he had to go back later to close it making it a planned procedure.