Don’t miss out on extra pay when global period resets.

Just because you routinely append modifiers to your claims doesn’t mean you’re filing correctly and getting the most appropriate pay. Brush up on your modifier know-how with these tips for three of the trickiest choices: modifiers 58, 78, and 79.

Selecting between these modifiers can be carrier-specific in some situations, says Jacqui Jones, office manager for Benjamin F. Balme, MD, PC in Klamath Falls, Ore.

Remember All Possible Uses for 58

The descriptor for modifier 58 seems self-explanatory: Staged or related procedure by the same physician during the postoperative period. Coders sometimes trip, however, when they forget that modifier 58 actually applies to subsequent procedures that fall into one of three categories:

Planned or anticipated (staged):  A good example might be an infected hand that has to be debrided several times over the course of a couple of weeks. You won’t use a modifier on the first procedure, but will add modifier 58 on the subsequent procedures.

More extensive than the original procedure: The physician manipulates a patient’s ulnar fracture. An x-ray at the follow-up appointment shows that the reduction failed, so the physician completes pinning or an open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF). Code the procedure as needed (with 25545, Open treatment of ulnar shaft fracture, includes internal fixation, when performed, for example) and append modifier 58.

Therapy or treatment following a surgical or diagnostic procedure: This could apply to a soft tissue biopsy followed at a later date by malignant tumor excision.

You’ll only append modifier 58 to the second procedure if it occurs during the first procedure’s global period. The date of the second procedure resets the global period. You should expect 100 percent reimbursement for procedures you file with modifier 58.

Verify ‘Surprise’ Before Reporting 78...