Medicare AdvantageAdministrativeLow impact
MA03.012d, Modifier 79: Unrelated Procedure or Service by the Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional During the Postoperative Period
Independence Blue Cross·Coding
Effective date
Mar 5, 2025
We identified it
Jun 19, 2026
Summary
Medicare Advantage has reissued policy MA03.012d regarding Modifier 79 for unrelated procedures performed by the same physician during a postoperative period. This is a policy reissuance with no apparent content changes, maintaining existing billing requirements for this modifier.
Action Required
By March 5, 2025: Billing team should review the updated policy MA03.012d to confirm no changes to current Modifier 79 billing practices. Verify that billing software and staff training remain compliant with reissued guidance for unrelated procedures during postoperative periods.