same physician during the post-operative period – modifier 79

Definition:

• Unrelated procedure by the same physician during the post-operative period

Appropriate Usage:

• To describe an unrelated procedure performed during the post-operative period of the original procedure.
• The two procedures are performed by the same physician
• All procedure codes except those with XXX in the GLOB (global) field of the MPFSDB.
• Used on services during the post-operative period starting the day after the procedure

Inappropriate Usage:

• The procedure performed is related to the original procedure or a staged procedure.
• If the services performed are related to the original procedure, it is considered part of the global period.