Self-Quiz: Test Your Selection Savvy: -58, -78 or -79?

Why This Topic Matters

Correct postoperative modifier selection affects how related services are tracked and reported during the global period. This article matters for coders who need to recognize when a follow-up service is part of the original surgical episode versus a separate or complication-related event.

Article Sections

1. Scenario 1

   A postoperative complication scenario involving a return to the operating room after an initial surgery. The section asks readers to consider which postoperative modifier applies in this context.

2. Scenario 2

   A case involving a biopsy followed by a later breast procedure. The section focuses on a second surgery performed after pathology results and asks readers to determine the appropriate postoperative modifier.

3. Scenario 3

   A postoperative recovery scenario involving slow healing and additional surgical attention after a colectomy. The section asks readers to evaluate modifier selection in the setting of ongoing care during the global period.

4. Scenario 4

   A separate new problem arising during the postoperative period after the initial hernia repair. The section asks readers to identify the modifier associated with an unrelated service during recovery.