Question

a pressure sore of the right ankle and right hip were debrided in the morning: but due to the patient's condition, the selective debridement of the sacral pressure sore were performed at a seperated session in the afternoon on that same date by the same provider. which modifier would be assigned for the second procedure?

Answer 1

For a separate debridement procedure performed on the same day by the same provider, Modifier 59 should be used to indicate that the service was distinct and separate, warranting separate reimbursement.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a pressure sore debridement was performed on the right ankle and right hip in the morning, and a separate selective debridement of a sacral pressure sore occurred in the afternoon of the same date by the same provider, the appropriate modifier for the second procedure would be Modifier 59.

This modifier is used to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other services performed on the same day.

Modifier 59 informs the payer that although the procedures are commonly not reported together, in this specific case, they were performed at different sessions due to the patient's condition. Therefore, it deserves separate reimbursement.