Global Surgery – 79 Modifier

79 Unrelated Procedure by the Same Physician During the Postoperative Period:
The physician may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. This circumstance may be reported by using the modifier 79.

A repair of a femoral hernia (49550) is performed on January 5, 2007. The postoperative period designation for this procedure code is 90 days.

On February 12, 2007, the same physician performs an appendectomy. The physician should report the appendectomy as 4495079.

Global Surgery – 59 Modifier

59 Distinct Procedural Service: Under certain circumstances, a provider may need to indicate that a procedure or service was independent from the services performed on the same day. See Appendix C (Correct Coding Initiative) for more information regarding the use of modifier 59.