Global periods: Can you bill a service separately?

Why This Topic Matters

Global period rules can determine whether a postoperative or perioperative service is bundled or separately reportable. Understanding the general differences between CPT, Medicare, and some private payer approaches helps reduce billing errors and claim denials.

Article Sections

1. Included services in the global surgical package

   This section outlines the broad types of services generally considered part of the surgical package under CPT. It focuses on routine perioperative and postoperative components without getting into code-specific instructions.

2. Services not included

   This section summarizes categories of services that are generally not part of the surgical package under both CPT and Medicare. It distinguishes broader exclusions from routine bundled care.

3. Length of global periods

   This section describes the general categories of global period lengths and how they relate to minor and major procedures. It also notes that payer policies may differ.

4. Global periods and place of service

   This section discusses how setting and procedure complexity can relate to different global periods. It includes an ophthalmology example involving office-based and facility-based procedures.

5. Unrelated procedures

   This section compares CPT and Medicare approaches to services considered unrelated to the original procedure. It addresses postoperative complications and follow-up care at a high level.