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    Appropriate Modifier for Surgery in Global Period


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    Question: Our ophthalmologist performed a YAG laser vitreolysis within the global period of a YAG capsulotomy (CPT code 66821). Should we append modifier -59 to CPT code 67031 YAG vitreolysis? The diagnoses are different.

    Answer: No need to use modifier -59. CCI edits affect surgeries performed on the same patient, same day, same session. Since the vitreolysis was performed within the global period of a capsulotomy, you do not need to unbundle the two codes.

    Instead, append modifier -79 plus -RT or -LT since the two procedures are unrelated.

    Learn more about modifiers in Ophthalmic Coding: Learn to Code Essentials.