Medicare boosts pay for bilateral nerve blocks

Why This Topic Matters

The update may affect reimbursement, rebilling, and claims handling for practices that perform these services. It also highlights how Medicare and related guidance intersect with global surgical billing for post-operative pain management.

Article Sections

1. Medicare payment update for bilateral nerve blocks and continuous catheters

   This section introduces the Medicare fee schedule change, the timing of the update, and the general categories of services affected. It also notes the practical impact on reimbursement workflows and claim adjustments.

2. Global surgical package and post-operative pain services

   This section discusses how post-operative pain management relates to the global surgical package and when separate reporting is not generally appropriate. It references Medicare and professional society guidance in broad terms.

3. When separate reporting may be considered

   This section outlines circumstances discussed in the article where a service may be treated differently during the post-operative period. It also mentions related billing considerations involving operating room returns and payer-specific handling.

4. Medicare pays bilateral rate for these nerve block codes

   This section presents the article’s table of affected procedure identifiers and payment comparisons across settings. It is a reference list tied to the Medicare bilateral payment update.