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Is CPT 20660 separately reportable with 61313?
My surgeon wants to bill CPT 20660 and CPT 61313. Is 20660 appropriate to report in addition?
Question:
My surgeon wants to bill CPT 20660 and CPT 61313. Is 20660 appropriate to report in addition?
Answer:
Great question! Thank you for asking KZA!
If you review the CPT descriptor for CPT 20660, this is a designated separate procedure.
First, let’s review what a “separate procedure” is:
CPT Says: “Some of the procedures or services listed in the CPT codebook that are commonly carried out as an integral component of a total service or procedure have been identified by the inclusion of the term “separate procedure.” The codes designated as “separate procedure” should not be reported in addition to the code for the total procedure or service of which it is considered an integral component.
However, when a procedure or service that is designated as a “separate procedure” is carried out independently or considered to be unrelated or distinct from other procedures, report the code in addition to other procedures/services by appending modifier 59 to the specific “separate procedure” code. This indicates that the procedure is not considered to be a component of another procedure, but is a distinct, independent procedure. This may represent a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries).”
That said, this means in practice that if a code description includes the term “separate procedure,” if that procedure is in the same anatomic area as a more comprehensive procedure (for example, application of a headframe followed by a craniectomy), only the more comprehensive procedure, the craniectomy (61313), is reported.
*This response is based on the best information available as of 9/25/25.
Two Procedures on the Same Day
If a patient develops a complication from a surgical procedure and needs to return to the OR for treatment, will the second procedure require a modifier and if so, which modifier? We are debating whether it would be a modifier 58 for staged procedure, or 78 for an unplanned return to the OR.
Question:
If a patient develops a complication from a surgical procedure during the global period and needs to return to the OR for treatment, will the second procedure require a modifier and if so, which modifier? We are debating whether it would be a modifier 58 for staged procedure, or 78 for an unplanned return to the OR.
Answer:
Modifiers 58 is appended to a subsequent procedure if it is staged or more extensive than the original procedure. Modifier 78 is for an unplanned return to the OR, typically a complication. Therefore, in the scenario you describe, a modifier 78 for an unplanned return for a complication would be the appropriate modifier.
*This response is based on the best information available as of 8/28/25.
How Do You Bill for H&P?
The hospital requires our surgeons to perform and document an H & P prior to the patient having an elective gall bladder surgery. Sometimes it’s done in the office before the surgery and sometimes it’s done on the same day as the procedure. If this H & P is documented, can the E/M be billed? And does it make a difference if it’s done a week before the surgery?
Question:
The hospital requires our surgeons to perform and document an H & P prior to the patient having an elective gall bladder surgery. Sometimes it’s done in the office before the surgery and sometimes it’s done on the same day as the procedure. If this H & P is documented, can the E/M be billed? And does it make a difference if it’s done a week before the surgery?
Answer:
A pre-operative H & P, regardless of when it occurs, is included in the global surgical package and is not separately billable. CPT clarified this in 2009 in a CPT Assistant comment, see below:
“If the surgeon sees a patient and makes a decision for surgery and then the patient returns for a visit where the intent of the visit is the preoperative H&P, and this service occurs in the interval between the decision-making visit and the day of surgery, regardless of when the visit occurs (1 day, 3 days, or 2 weeks), the visit is not separately billable as it is included in the surgical package.” (Source CPT May 2009)
*This response is based on the best information available as of 8/14/25.
Hernia Repair and Small Bowel Resection
A patient with open repair of an incarcerated hernia is noted to have necrotic bowel within the incarcerated hernia. This area of non-viable small bowel is resected and anastomosis is performed. Is this separately billable?
Question:
A patient with open repair of an incarcerated hernia is noted to have necrotic bowel within the incarcerated hernia. This area of non-viable small bowel is resected and anastomosis is performed. Is this separately billable?
Answer:
Yes, if another organ is involved in the incarcerated hernia, and needs to be resected or repaired, this may be maybe separately reported with the appropriate hernia repair.
*This response is based on the best information available as of 7/31/25.
Two Procedures on the Same Day
If a patient develops complications from a procedure later the same day as the original procedure and needs to return to the OR would we append modifier 78 or 79?
Question:
If a patient develops complications from a procedure later the same day as the original procedure and needs to return to the OR would we append modifier 78 or 79?
Answer:
Neither; the global period begins the first day after the procedure, so when returning to the OR on the same day as the original procedure you would append modifier 59 (or XE if X modifiers are used) to the second procedure to demonstrate that it is a separate encounter.
*This response is based on the best information available as of 7/17/25.
Flap Creation to Prevent Adhesion to Abdominal Wall
Can I separately bill for an omental flap or peritoneal flap when the surgeon performs the flap to prevent adhesion to the abdominal wall after a hernia repair or colon resection?
Question:
Can I separately bill for an omental flap or peritoneal flap when the surgeon performs the flap to prevent adhesion to the abdominal wall after a hernia repair or colon resection?
Answer:
No, you cannot bill separately for the omental or peritoneal flap. Using flaps to prevent adhesion to the abdominal wall is considered part of the closure and would not be separately reported.
*This response is based on the best information available as of 6/19/25.
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