tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 1999 Issue 6

Reader Question: Hemicolectomy and Modifier -78

Question: An 83-year-old woman had a right hemicolectomy five weeks ago. She presented at this time with a subhepatic abscess (etiology obscure). There was no evidence of gastrointestinal leak. However, the patients gall bladder contained numerous stones and appeared acutely inflamed. The abscess was drained by open surgical exposure (to look for an anastomatic problem, but none was found). An open cholecystectomy also was performed. How do we code these procedures?Anonymous Georgia CoderAnswer: All partial colectomies (44140-44160) have 90-day global periods, so any subsequent procedures or services performed during that time fall under the hemicolectomys global package unless...

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