What is the difference between 58/78 and 79 modifiers?

Asked by: Ernie Lebsack  |  Last update: February 2, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (63 votes)

Modifiers 58 and 78 are always for procedures related to another procedure. With modifier 79, it doesn't matter whether the procedure was planned or unplanned during the previous procedure, because there's no connection between the different operations.

What is the difference between 58 and 79 modifier?

Modifiers 58 (staged, related) and 79 (unrelated) are not subject to any global period allowance reductions. Documentation may be required for review to verify the services were staged or unrelated to the original surgical session.

What is the 79 modifier used for?

Modifier 79 is used to indicate an unrelated procedure that was performed by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the post-operative period.

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 a 78 modifier used for?

Modifier 78 is used to report the unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician following an initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period.

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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.

What is the 59 modifier used for?

Modifier 59 Distinct Procedural Service indicates that a procedure is separate and distinct from another procedure on the same date of service. Typically, this modifier is applied to a procedure code that is not ordinarily paid separately from the first procedure but should be paid per the specifics of the situation.

Which of the following scenarios qualifies for modifier 58?

Modifier 58 indicates that a staged or related procedure or service was performed by the same physician during the postoperative period. It is used when the subsequent procedure was planned (staged), more extensive than the original procedure, or for therapeutic reasons following a surgical procedure.

What is the Medicare 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.

What is the difference between modifier 59 and 78?

Modifier 59 refers to a non-E/M service performed on the same day. In comparison, modifiers 79, 78, and 58 refer to unrelated procedures or E/M services performed post-op. However, the point of confusion is usually regarding modifier 79.

Which modifier goes first 54 or 79?

In addition, based on the surgery or postoperative care the doctor performs, an additional modifier 54 or modifier 55 must be reported along with modifier 79-LT (Example: 66982-79-55-LT). Modifier 79 is listed first because it is a pricing modifier.

What is a 73 modifier used for?

Modifier -73 is used by the facility to indicate that a surgical or diagnostic procedure requiring anesthesia was terminated due to extenuating circumstances or to circumstances that threatened the well being of the patient after the patient had been prepared for the procedure (including procedural pre-medication when ...

What is the use of modifier 79?

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.

Does 58 modifier restart global period?

Modifier 58=The global period restarts with the subsequent procedure, and the surgeon should receive 100 percent of the allowable reimbursement on both the first and the subsequent procedures.

What is the difference between modifier 76 and 78?

In some situations, it's easy to confuse modifier 79 (Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period) with modifier 76 (Repeat procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional), 78 (Unplanned return ...

What is the modifier 58 78 and 79?

Modifiers 58 and 78 are always for procedures related to another procedure. With modifier 79, it doesn't matter whether the procedure was planned or unplanned during the previous procedure, because there's no connection between the different operations.

Why is the 78 modifier used?

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 80?

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.

What is modifier 77?

CPT Modifier 77 'Repeat procedure by another physician': A physician may need to indicate that he or she repeated a service performed by another physician on the same day.

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.

What is modifier 81 used to describe?

Use the "81" This modifier pertains to physician's services only. Minimal surgical assistance may be identified by adding the modifier 81 to the usual procedure code and describes an assistant surgeon providing minimal assistance to the primary surgeon.

What is modifier 57?

Modifier 57 is used to indicate an Evaluation and Management (E/M) service resulted in the initial decision to perform surgery either the day before a major surgery (90 day global) or the day of a major surgery.

What is modifier 60 used for?

The CPT manual introduced modifier -60 in 2001 to allow providers to indicate when a procedure was more complex than normal due to an altered surgical field.

What does modifier 91 mean?

Modifier 91 is used when multiple, serial laboratory tests are needed in the course of treatment of a patient (e.g., repeat blood glucose tests). Modifier 91 is used when a clinical laboratory test must be repeated on the same date of service and the results are used to assist in managing the treatment of a patient.