Hello, I’m hoping that someone can help answer a question for me.
Modifier 78 states: "Unplanned return to the Operating/Procedure Room by the same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional Following Initial Procedure for a Related Procedure During the Postoperative Period".
With that being said, I work for a group of general surgeons and quite often our patients are brought back into our office and taken to our patient rooms where an incision and drainage may be performed of a hematoma or a seroma. I have been considering these as "procedure rooms" since we do procedures here at the office and I have been billing these with a -78 modifier. Now I am told that the -78 is used only if the patient is taken back to the hospital operating room.
I would appreciate clarification on this if anyone has any information that they can share.
Thank you in advance.
Michelle King CPC
Modifier 78 states: "Unplanned return to the Operating/Procedure Room by the same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional Following Initial Procedure for a Related Procedure During the Postoperative Period".
With that being said, I work for a group of general surgeons and quite often our patients are brought back into our office and taken to our patient rooms where an incision and drainage may be performed of a hematoma or a seroma. I have been considering these as "procedure rooms" since we do procedures here at the office and I have been billing these with a -78 modifier. Now I am told that the -78 is used only if the patient is taken back to the hospital operating room.
I would appreciate clarification on this if anyone has any information that they can share.
Thank you in advance.
Michelle King CPC