Reader Question: Find Out When to Append Modifier 24

Why This Topic Matters

Postoperative visits can affect whether an E/M service is separately reportable, so understanding the boundaries of modifier use helps support compliant claim submission and documentation review.

Article Sections

1. Question

   A reader asks about billing a hospital E/M visit during a postoperative global period after a return to the operating room.

2. Answer

   The response addresses postoperative E/M reporting concepts, documentation expectations, and a related postoperative modifier scenario discussed in MAC guidance.

3. When you report modifier 24, the E/M service must meet the following requirements:

   This section outlines general conditions tied to postoperative E/M reporting and documentation support for unrelated services.

4. According to the MAC Noridian, you should never use modifier 24 in the following situations:

   This section summarizes categories of postoperative situations identified by MAC guidance as inappropriate for the modifier.