by David J. Freedman, DPM, FASPS, FACFAS CPC, CSFAC, CPMA
July 11, 2021
By mbrody
0 Comments
There was a very important question recently posted, “Since the global period for a toe amputation is now zero days, does that mean I bill for removing sutures in the office when I do a follow up visit in 14 days? Billing for this seems very uncomfortable to me.” As a Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Surgical Foot and Ankle Coder (CSFAC) and as a Certified Professional Medical Auditor (CPMA), I had to mostly disagree fundamentally with a colleague’s previously posted response.
“I performed a partial 1st ray amputation that included the hallux and part of the 1st metatarsal. The site did not heal, and a new infection developed at the amputation site. The result is a return to the operating room for a right trans-metatarsal amputation. For the subsequent surgery, I used Modifier 78. After all, this was an unplanned return to the operating room. I evaluated the patient post operatively and I am wondering which date should I be using for the 90-day global period?”