Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

Answer: According to CPT 2000, modifier -79 (unrelated procedure or service by the same physician during the same postoperative period) should be used when the same physician performs an unrelated procedure or service during the postoperative period. Because the patient was within the global surgical period for the cataract surgery and during that time had an unrelated procedure the incision and drainage of the cyst on her eyelid modifier -79 should be appended to the 10060 code for the incision and drainage of the cyst.