Part B Coding Coach: Avoid Giving Care Away for Free During Global With These Quick Tips

Why This Topic Matters

Understanding global-period billing helps practices avoid missing reportable services and supports more accurate claims when multiple physicians share care or when a patient returns for related follow-up treatment.

Article Sections

1. Know the Global Period Parameters

   Explains the general timing framework associated with a surgical global period and describes the broad types of services commonly included across the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative timeline.

2. Pay Attention to the Partial Payments

   Covers shared or split components of surgical care and the modifier categories discussed for situations where different providers handle different portions of the service. Includes a brief example involving a surgical code and postoperative follow-up by another provider.

3. Medicare Requires Return to OR for Postop Payment

   Describes the general distinction between unplanned related returns to the operating room and other postoperative return scenarios. Also addresses the broader criteria discussed for planned or staged follow-up procedures during the global period.