Wiki Postoperative question

[mfranks]

We have a patient that had ORIF of the PIP joint in Las Vegas during his vacation. He now has come home and has come to visit one of our Docs for post operative care. Should we be billing this as the ORIF with modifier 55 or as a new patient? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[nyyankees]

We have a patient that had ORIF of the PIP joint in Las Vegas during his vacation. He now has come home and has come to visit one of our Docs for post operative care. Should we be billing this as the ORIF with modifier 55 or as a new patient? Any help would be appreciated.

In reality - yes. But unless you coordinate with the surgical doc who adds his modifier you won't get paid. I think without that communication you'll need to submit E/M codes.