tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2005 Issue 7

Relationship to Original Procedure Matters for -78, -79

You need a return to the OR to apply -78 When attempting to decide between modifiers -78 and -79 for a procedure during the postoperative period of another surgery, the most important question you must ask yourself is, "Would the second surgery have been necessary if the first surgery hadn't occurred?" When circumstances arising from the initial surgery necessitate the second surgery, you should turn to -78. Meet 3 Guidelines for -78 You should apply modifier -78 (Return to the operating room for a related procedure during the post-operative period) when:1. the surgeon must undertake the subsequent surgery...

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