What is a 58 modifier used for?
Asked by: Owen Herzog I | Last update: November 9, 2025Score: 4.3/5 (18 votes)
Which scenario qualifies for modifier 58?
In surgical situations when a subsequent procedure takes place within the global period of the original procedure, and/or because the physician anticipated a planned (or staged) procedure, modifier 58 comes into play.
What is the difference between 58 and 59 modifiers?
Commonly used modifiers to communicate these unique circumstances include Modifier 58 (staged procedure within the global period), Modifier 59 (distinct procedural service), Modifier 76 (repeat procedure), Modifier 78 (subsequent or related procedure/ service within a global, unplanned return to the operating room), ...
Can you use modifier 58 and 78 together?
Modifiers 58, 78, and 79 are mutually exclusive to one another; only one of these modifiers may apply to a service or procedure performed within a postoperative global period.
When should modifier 57 be used?
Modifier -57 is appended to office visits the same day or within three days of a major surgery (90-day global period). It indicates the office visit includes the decision for the major procedure.
UNDERSTANDING MODIFIER 58 STAGED OR RELATED PROCEDURE MEDICAL CODING
What is modifier 58 used for?
Modifier 58 is defined as a staged or related procedure performed during the postoperative period of the first procedure by the same physician. A new postoperative period begins when the staged procedure is billed.
What is an example of a 57 modifier?
For example, a surgeon sees a patient and determines (and appropriately documents) that patient needs an emergency appendectomy. Because the E/M led to the decision for surgery, both the E/M (with modifier 57 appended) and the surgery may be reported, with separate payment for each.
What is a 78 modifier used for?
Definitions. Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) modifier 78 is used to describe an unplanned return to the operating room or procedure room during the global period of the initial procedure by the same physician.
What is modifier 59 used for?
For the NCCI, the primary purpose of CPT® modifier 59 is to indicate that two or more procedures are performed at different anatomic sites or during different patient encounters. It should only be used if no other modifier more appropriately describes the relationships of the two or more procedure codes.
Which modifier should go first?
Informational or statistical modifiers (e.g., any modifier not classified as a payment modifier) should be listed after the payment modifier. If multiple informational/statistical modifiers apply, you may list them in any order (as long as they are listed after payment modifiers).
What is medical code 58?
Denial code 58 is used when the payer determines that the treatment or service was provided in a location that is considered inappropriate or invalid according to their guidelines.
How to tell if CPT codes are bundled?
This depends on medical coding rules. Bundling occurs when procedures or services with unique CPT or HCPCS Level II codes are billed together under one code. Unbundling is when two or more codes that are normally part of a single procedure can be billed separately.
Under what circumstances would modifier 59 not be appropriate?
If you performed 2 procedures on different sides of the body, you may report them with modifiers LT and RT as appropriate. However, modifiers 59, XE, XS, XP, XU are inappropriate if the basis for their use is that the narrative description of the 2 codes is different.
What is modifier 79 used for?
Modifier 79 is used to indicate an unrelated procedure performed by the same physician during the postoperative period of the original surgery. When the procedure is related to the original surgery or is a staged (anticipated) surgery, it falls under the global period and should not use Modifier 79.
What is modifier 76 used for?
CPT Modifier 76: 'Repeat procedure by same physician: The physician may need to indicate that a service was repeated the same day subsequent to the original service.
What is modifier 80 used for?
Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) Modifier 80 - CPT Modifier 80 represents assistant at surgery by another physician. This assistant at surgery is providing full assistance to the primary surgeon.
Can a patient see two doctors on the same day?
Patients often schedule two medical appointments on the same day with physicians of different specialties. It's convenient for them. It saves travel time. It may mean the patient or a family member only needs to take one day off work.
When to use modifier 90?
Independent laboratories shall use modifier 90 to identify all referred laboratory services. A claim for a referred laboratory service that does not contain the modifier 90 is returned as unprocessable if the claim can otherwise be identified as being for a referred service.
What is 57 modifier?
CPT modifier 57 may be used to report the decision for surgery for certain codes. This modifier may be used to indicate that an evaluation and management (E/M) service performed on the same day or the day before a major surgery (090 global days) by the surgeon resulted in the decision to perform the procedure.
What is modifier 55?
Modifier 55
Postoperative Management Only. When a physician or other qualified health care professional performs the postoperative management and another physician performed the surgical procedure, the postoperative component may be identified by appending this modifier to the surgical procedure.
What is a 26 modifier?
• Modifier 26 is appended when a physician provides the professional component only of the global fee. and when the physician prepares a written interpretation and report. • Modifier 26 should only be appended to codes which are listed in the CMS NPFSRVF as modifier 26. appropriate.
What is modifier 54?
Code. Description. 54. SURGICAL CARE ONLY: WHEN ONE PHYSICIAN PERFORMS A SURGICAL PROCEDURE AND ANOTHER PROVIDES PREOPERATIVE AND/OR POSTOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT, SURGICAL SERVICES MAY BE IDENTIFIED BY ADDING THE MODIFIER -54 TO THE USUAL PROCEDURE NUMBER OR BY USE OF THE SEPARATE FIVE DIGIT MODIFIER CODE 09954.
What is the modifier 52 rule?
Modifier -52 is used to indicate partial reduction or discontinuation of radiology procedures and other services that do not require anesthesia. The modifier provides a means for reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service.
When to use modifier 59 example?
Therapists often use modifier 59 to bill for “two timed code procedures [that] are performed sequentially in the same encounter.” For instance, if you billed CPT codes 97140 (Manual Therapy) and 97530 (Therapeutic Activities)—and you provided those services during separate and distinct 15-minute intervals—then, as ...