Primary Care Coding Alert

Question: My physician saw a patient in the office for a nosebleed. Later that day, the patient returned and was treated by another physician for severe nosebleed. She spent an hour to get the nosebleed under control. Should I use modifier 77 to bill both doctors' services?Tennessee Subscriber Answer: No, modifier 77 (Repeat procedure or services by another physician or other qualified health care professional) is unnecessary. In the example you provide, you'll submit either 30901 (Control nasal hemorrhage, anterior, simple (limited cautery and/or packing) any method) or 30903 (Control nasal hemorrhage, anterior, complex [extensive cautery and/or packing] any method) for the procedure performed by the first physician, depending on the extent of that service. Assuming the second physician is in the same practice as the physician who controlled the nosebleed initially, you'll append modifier 59 (Distinct procedural service) to the second physician's claim, which should be for 30903. Modifier [...]