Modifier 79
Unrelated procedure or service by same physician during postoperative period
✅ When to Use Modifier 79
When a procedure completely unrelated to the original surgery is performed during the global period. DOES restart a new global period.
⛔ When NOT to Use Modifier 79
Do NOT use if the procedure is related to or a complication of the original surgery (use 78 instead).
📋 Documentation Requirements
Document that the procedure is unrelated to the original surgery with a different diagnosis.
Modifier 79 FAQ
What does modifier 79 mean? +
Unrelated procedure or service by same physician during postoperative period
When should I use modifier 79? +
When a procedure completely unrelated to the original surgery is performed during the global period. DOES restart a new global period.
When should I NOT use modifier 79? +
Do NOT use if the procedure is related to or a complication of the original surgery (use 78 instead).
What documentation is required for modifier 79? +
Document that the procedure is unrelated to the original surgery with a different diagnosis.
Get the full PayerReady toolkit
Free access to CPT/ICD-10 lookup, denial appeals, fee comparator, and claim auditing with credentialing enrollment.
Start free →Run this code through our claim audit tool
Check NCCI bundling, MUE limits, and modifier logic before submission.
Try the auditor →Related Modifiers
Did this page help?
Quick signal so we know what to improve.
If you want a code reference page that doesn't exist yet, email coding@payerready.com.
Tell us what's missing or wrong: coding@payerready.com. We respond within 5 business days.
Reviewed by the PayerReady Medical Coding Team
Verified against the CMS 2026 code set on May 31, 2026.
Powered by 11K CPT · 98K ICD-10 · 860K MPFS rates · 4.5M NCCI edits · 9.5M NPIs. Our data methodology · About our coding team