Contact among practices is key to billing split global services

Why This Topic Matters

Split postoperative care can lead to claim denials if practices do not document the transfer of care and report the service consistently. Understanding the article helps billing teams and clinicians recognize when postoperative follow-up belongs with the surgical claim rather than an office visit claim.

Article Sections

1. Postoperative care transferred between practices

   Introduces situations where postoperative follow-up is handled by a different physician or practice than the original surgeon. The section explains why communication and coordination matter for billing and claim processing.

2. Reporting split global services

   Describes the general billing approach for split global surgical services and how the responsible physicians divide reporting during the postoperative period. It also references follow-up reporting during the global period and the related surgical and postoperative billing structure.

3. Example involving a radical hysterectomy

   Provides an illustrative case showing how a referred surgical procedure and subsequent local postoperative care are handled in billing terms. The example uses Medicare fee schedule context to show how the service is apportioned.

4. Be wary of using an E/M code

   Explains common billing pitfalls when postoperative care resembles an evaluation and management visit. It also notes the importance of documenting transfer of care and linking the claim to an appropriate follow-up diagnosis.

5. Exceptions based on global periods

   Summarizes circumstances in which global-surgery modifiers do not apply based on the length or setting of the global period. The section highlights special situations involving short global periods and emergency department follow-up.