Wiki Coding a surgical complication on the same DOS as the original procedure

[devine1]

Can somebody tell me what modifier should be appended to the secondary procedure on the same DOS as the original procedure?

Patient was taken to the OR for a hernia repair and later that day the patient had a postoperative hematoma and was taken back to the OR for drainage.

I always thought that it should be the 78 modifier but have read somewhere that you would actually append the modifier 59.

Does anybody have any information regarding the use of the modifiers for a situation like this?

 

[CodingKing]

78 is the correct modifier., 59 will either deny because of surgery on same day or reduce 50% under multiple surgical reduction. You want full credit since it wasn't done on the same surgical session.

 

[devine1]

thank you