General Surgery Coding Alert

Question: I was recently told in a class that you do not need different diagnosis codes to use modifier 25 for reporting an E/M service on the same date as a procedure. But I've been told many times in the past by certified coders that when I bill more than one procedure that I need to add modifier 25 to the E/M and point the primary diagnosis to the E/M and point a secondary diagnosis to the other procedure. Can you clear up my confusion?California SubscriberAnswer: Proper modifier 25 (Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician on the same day of the procedure or other service) use does not require a different diagnosis code. In fact, the presence of different diagnosis codes attached to the E/M and the procedure does not necessarily support a separately reportable E/M service. Your key to separately reporting the E/M service [...]