When would you use modifier -89?

Modifier -89 is utilized in situations where a procedure follows a consult that leads to surgery. This modifier is specifically designed to convey that the surgical procedure performed was the result of a prior consultation, which plays a critical role in the continuity of care and the decision-making process that influenced the surgical intervention.

In applying this modifier, it is essential to recognize that the intent is to highlight the relationship between the consult and the subsequent surgical procedure. By doing so, it provides clarity for billing and coding purposes, ensuring that the rationale for the surgery is well-documented within the patient's medical record.

In contrast, the other options address different scenarios that do not align with the specific use case for modifier -89. Multiple modifiers for one procedure involve different coding guidelines, linking services indicates a different kind of relationship between services, and complications related to previous procedures do not specifically denote the consult-surgery relationship. Each of these has separate modifiers and coding implications that do not apply the same way as modifier -89.