Global surgical packages billing
Definition of global surgical package
CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) defines the surgical package as services provided by the physician for specific services that are 1) included in a given CPT surgical code and 2) are always included in addition to the surgical procedure itself. The services provided by a physician to any patient are by their very nature variable, but the global package remains the same. Global surgical package CPT codes are based on CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) methodologies.
Priority Health defines a global surgical package to include:
Major procedures
- The day prior to a major procedure
- The procedure
- The 90-day global period following a major procedure
Minor procedures
- The day of the minor procedure
- The procedure
- The 10-day global period following the minor procedure
Priority Health applies pre-treatment or follow-up edits to all services related to the surgical global package whether the post-operative period is 10 or 90 days. See below for details of the surgical package based on CPT guidelines.
Settings
Global surgery applies in any setting, including:
- Inpatient/outpatient
- Intensive care
- Critical care units
- Ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs)
- Offices
Pre-treatment day – day prior (major procedure) or day of (minor procedure)
- Decision for surgery: Excluded from global surgical package. Append appropriate modifier.
- Reference CPT guidelines with CPT manual for additional information.
- Billing for pre-operative care only: Refer to modifier 56 guidelines.
Surgical services
Surgical services include:
- Local infiltration, metacarpal/metatarsal/digital block or topical anesthesia
- Surgical service(s) and related procedures, techniques, etc.
- Immediate post-operative care, including dictating surgical (operative note), meeting/discussing patient with family and other physicians
- Evaluating the patient in post-anesthesia/recovery area
- Writing orders for the patient
Services may also include conscious sedation (99143-99145)
If billing for surgical care only, refer to modifier 54 guidelines.
Post-operative period
Includes:
- All post-operative follow-up care days (10 days or 90 days depending on procedure performed)
- All related services other than a return to the operating room
Unrelated E&M services that occur within the post-operative period should be appended with the appropriate modifier. Documentation must support the unrelated services.
If billing for post-operative care only, refer to modifier 55 guidelines.
