Medical Billing Forum

Coding => Coding => : sls February 14, 2011, 12:39:44 PM

: denied for post op
: sls February 14, 2011, 12:39:44 PM

billing 99232 visit for post op- there is a 90 day period for the procedure, but the doctor listed a different diagnosis code then the code that we did the surgery for.  what modifier can i use to report this as a different service to the surgery?   

: Re: denied for post op
: Michele February 14, 2011, 02:54:17 PM

I think you are looking for the 79 modifier:  "Unrelated service during postop period - Use on surgical codes only to indicate that the performance of a procedure during the postoperative period of another surgery was unrelated to the original procedure. Failure to use this modifier when appropriate may result in denial of the subsequent surgery."

Michele

: Re: denied for post op
: dekenn February 14, 2011, 05:06:40 PM

Actually, 99232 is a hospital visit, not a surgical procedure, so wouldn't you use modifier 24?

: Re: denied for post op
: Michele February 14, 2011, 08:26:43 PM

My bad -  You are right.  The 24 is appropriate not the 79! 

 :-[

Michele