Modifier 78

Modifer 78 notes in my new 2010 cpt book "by the same surgeon (physician)". I work at a va hospital and there are several surgeons to one speciality. So if Dr. XYZ, a general surgeon, performed a hernia repair and just say two days later the operative wound and the mesh were infected. Pt then retures and Dr. ABC, also a general surgeon at this same facility is available and debrides the wound and replaces the mesh. Would I use modifer 78 because a different surgeon (physician) performed the second surgery, related to the first?

Thanks
Chris Coll

Modifier 78

CMS says to pay physicians of the same group in the same specialty as if they were one physician. So, if Dr. XYZ and Dr. ABC are in the same group, I would use modifier 78. If you are in a covering group, then I would not.

I hope Nancy will also weigh in.

Modifier -78

Same specialty, same group member, return to OR for complication--use modifier -78, same global period continues from original surgery.