Question

Modifier-79, unrelated procedures or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period, is used in what type of service?

A) Surgical
B) Radiological
C) Evaluation and management
D) Laboratory

Answer 1

Modifier-79 is used in surgical services to denote an unrelated procedure by the same physician during the postoperative period of a different, initial surgery. It ensures that healthcare professionals are adequately compensated for providing an additional service that is not connected to the original procedure's recovery.

Step-by-step explanation:

Modifier-79 is used in surgical services. This modifier indicates that a procedure or service performed during the postoperative period is unrelated to the original procedure, and it is provided by the same physician or healthcare professional. In a surgical scenario, the use of this modifier becomes relevant if another surgery, unrelated to the first, is needed within the postoperative period of the first procedure. This ensures that the healthcare provider is compensated for the additional unrelated service.

For example, if a patient who recently underwent knee surgery now requires an unrelated surgical intervention, perhaps for appendicitis, the surgeon would apply Modifier-79 to the second procedure's billing code to indicate that this new surgery is separate from the knee surgery and its inclusive follow-up care.

The confirmation of the patient's identity, surgical site, and procedure, as well as ensuring all essential imaging results are displayed, aligns with the importance of accuracy in surgical practices and reinforces the context in which Modifier-79 could be used.