Modifier 79

Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician during the postoperative
period.

Modifier 79 is used with surgical procedures to identify a procedure or service by
the same physician during the postoperative period of another unrelated procedure.
This modifier should be submitted when an unrelated subsequent service is
performed by the same surgeon within the global period of a major or minor
surgery.

The 79 is used on the 2nd procedure when there is a global period on the 1st code.
It does not matter whether a global period exist on the 2nd code.

Please note: Use modifier 78 if the subsequent surgery is related to the initial
surgery and required a return to the operating room, and both are performed by
the same surgeon.

If the subsequent surgery is related to the initial surgery but does not require a
return to the operating room, and both are performed by the same surgeon, do not
submit separately. Additional related surgical procedures that do not require a
return to the operating room are included in the global fee for the initial surgery.