NOV 28, 2017
Unrelated Exam Day Before Planned Surgery
Question: A patient is having a pre-scheduled Yag laser today. We saw her yesterday, as a work-in for a subconjunctival hemorrhage. Does that work-in visit need a modifier since it was yesterday?
Answer: To obtain payment for the exam, these cases often have to go to review.
Modifier -57 is not appropriate since the need for the laser has already been determined. Modifier -24 is technically not appropriate since it is the day before surgery, which is included in the global period.
Learn more about modifiers in Ophthalmic Coding: Learn to Code the Essentials.