Corporate Compliance

Tip: Using modifier -78

Compliance Monitor, October 19, 2005

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Use modifier -78 to indicate that another procedure was performed during the postoperative period of the initial procedure performed earlier in the same day.

Ensure that modifier -78 is reported if both of these conditions are met:

  • The subsequent procedure relates to the first procedure

  • The subsequent procedure requires the use of an operating room.

    The above tip is an excerpt from the book "Modifier Training Handbook for Hospital Billers and Coders," Copyright 2004 by HCPro, Inc. This book is an easy-to-use training guide for billers, coders, and their HIM supervisors and managers that's written in plain English and takes the confusion out of the appropriate use of hospital modifiers.



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