Surgeons will report visits during global period with G codes in 2017

Why This Topic Matters

The proposal affects how practices report services furnished during surgical global periods and may influence future valuation of those procedures. It is important for organizations that bill Medicare for surgical services, monitor CMS rulemaking, or manage documentation and compliance workflows.

Article Sections

1. CMS proposal and Medicare global period reporting

   Introduces the proposed Medicare physician fee schedule change and the new reporting approach for services furnished during surgical global periods. Covers the policy context and the broader CMS data-collection effort.

2. MACRA context and future revaluation

   Summarizes the legislative and regulatory background shaping CMS’s approach. Discusses the planned data collection effort and the anticipated timing of future review of global surgery valuation.

3. Claims-based reporting and participation requirements

   Describes the claims-based reporting framework and the proposal’s implementation approach. Notes the agency’s discussion of participation expectations and potential enforcement considerations.

4. Current internal tracking and use of existing reporting

   Explains how some practices already track postoperative activity internally and how CMS is comparing that existing reporting pattern to the new proposal. Includes mention of utilization patterns by specialty.

5. Proposed G-code structure and service categories

   Outlines the general structure of the new G codes and the categories of services they are intended to represent. Covers the high-level distinctions among service types without detailing coding instructions.

6. CMS request for comments

   Notes the agency’s solicitation of public feedback on the proposal and the comment period timing. Frames the final part of the article as a rulemaking update.