General Surgery Coding Alert

Correction:

37720/37785 and Modifier -59

The November 2002 General Surgery Coding Alert (Article 4) incorrectly stated that when reporting vein stripping procedures 37720/37785 during the same operative session, you should append modifier -59 (Distinct procedural service) to 37785. Rather, because it is designated the "category 2" code by the national Correct Coding Initiative, you should append modifier -59 to 37720, not 37785.