July 13, 2017

Question:
Can I bill for taking the patient back to the OR to explore and repair post-op hemorrhage on day post-op? I heard that all complications are included in the payment of the original surgery.

Answer:
Yes, you may bill for this. CPT and Medicare agree that taking the patient back to the OR to treat a complication is billable. A modifier 78, (unplanned return to the OR) is appended to the procedures performed to treat the hemorrhage.  The appropriate ICD-10 code for a postoperative hemorrhage would also be reported.

*This response is based on the best information available as of 07/13/17.