E/M Coding Alert - 2008 Issue 12
Reader Question: Primary Surgeon Should Keep Global In Mind
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Article Overview
This Q&A discusses surgical global period billing in the context of a consulting or assisting surgeon, with emphasis on Medicare carrier guidance. It is relevant to orthopedic, neurosurgical, and other surgical practices, as well as coders who need a high-level understanding of separately reportable services, related evaluation and management visits, diagnostic work, postoperative care, and related modifier use. The article also references carrier guidance from Palmetto GBA and touches on critical care documentation in relation to injury and burn diagnoses.
Why This Topic Matters
Understanding the scope of the global period is essential for identifying which physician’s services fall within global surgical billing rules and which services may be separately considered. This helps practices avoid inappropriate bundling and supports more accurate postoperative billing workflows.
What You Will Learn
- How the global period is discussed in relation to primary and assisting physicians
- What broad categories of services may be considered separately during a postoperative period
- How carrier guidance is referenced for surgical global billing topics
- What kinds of follow-up services and diagnostic work are mentioned in the context of postoperative care
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Billing staff
- Surgical practice managers
- Orthopedic practices
- Neurosurgical practices
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
Modifiers Discussed
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