Outpatient Facility Coding Alert - 2013 Issue 9
Reader Question: What In The World Is The Global Period On An E/M Code?
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Article Overview
This article addresses a common coding question about whether a later outpatient encounter can be reported after an earlier emergency department visit by the same provider. It is written for coders, billers, and clinic staff who work with evaluation and management services and outpatient documentation. The discussion focuses on broad E/M billing concepts, the impact of global-package concepts on different service types, and the role of documentation in supporting reporting.
Why This Topic Matters
Understanding how E/M services are treated in relation to global periods helps practices avoid missed reporting opportunities and better evaluate whether separate encounters may be reportable.
What You Will Learn
- How the article frames a billing question involving two encounters on consecutive days.
- How the discussion distinguishes general E/M billing concepts from procedures performed at a later visit.
- What type of documentation issues are relevant to determining reportability.
- How the article characterizes emergency department E/M services in relation to patient status concepts.
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Billing staff
- Practice managers
- Clinical documentation staff
- Physician office staff
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