lpalladino
Contributor
Hello -
My doctor performed "Left transforaminal L3-4 discectomy with instrumented L3-4 fusion with interbody cage...and L5-S1 microdiscectomy". Surgery was completed, pt brought to the recovery suite. Once patient was in recovery suite, the same physician was called back as the patient noted total weakness in terms of 0/5 from hip flexors down and "Exploration of posterior lumbar surgical wounds with extension of laminectomy, hemilaminectomy at L5-S1 into the left hemilaminectomy at L4, partial laminectomy at L1-2 with re-exploration of the L3-4 level with extension of partial laminectomy on the left side..." My question...Is there an appropriate modifier I can use to distinguish between the two surgeries, should they act as one since they are performed in the same day? Can I bill exploration on the second surgery? Thank you for your help.
My doctor performed "Left transforaminal L3-4 discectomy with instrumented L3-4 fusion with interbody cage...and L5-S1 microdiscectomy". Surgery was completed, pt brought to the recovery suite. Once patient was in recovery suite, the same physician was called back as the patient noted total weakness in terms of 0/5 from hip flexors down and "Exploration of posterior lumbar surgical wounds with extension of laminectomy, hemilaminectomy at L5-S1 into the left hemilaminectomy at L4, partial laminectomy at L1-2 with re-exploration of the L3-4 level with extension of partial laminectomy on the left side..." My question...Is there an appropriate modifier I can use to distinguish between the two surgeries, should they act as one since they are performed in the same day? Can I bill exploration on the second surgery? Thank you for your help.