Please note this question was answered in 2010. The coding advice may or may not be outdated.
Procedures performed in the global surgical period of 47511
Date: Dec 20, 2010
Question:
Dr. Z - This question is in regards to modifiers 78 and 79. The patient has an internal/external biiary drain, 47511, placed on 7/30. The drain was "pulled back by the patient" on 9/2 and the radiologist replaced it, 47525. Since this falls within the global period of the 7/30 procedure would the appropriate modifier be 78 or 79? Then 4 days later the drain "fell out" and the radiologist placed a new one int/ext, 47511 - 78 or 79? Thanks so much for any advice you can give on these modifiers!
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