During the global surgical period for a major procedure performed b…

Question

During the global surgical period for a major procedure performed by the same surgeon, the patient returns to the clinic for routine postoperative wound checks related to that surgery. How are those E/M services generally treated for professional billing?

Accepted Answer

Routine postoperative E/M related to the surgery is typically bundled into the global surgical package unless documentation meets criteria for an unrelated or separately identifiable service with an appropriate modifier. — The global fee already bought the routine postop pit stops. You do not ticket every bandage check unless something unrelated or truly separate shows up—and even then you need the right modifier story.

Answer

Always bill a high-level office E/M with modifier 24 for every postop check.

Answer

Convert each postop visit to a new surgical CPT to restart the global.

Answer

Bill the visits as consultation codes because another physician’s staff room was used.

During the global surgical period for a major procedure performed by the same surgeon, the patient returns to the clinic for routine postoperative wound checks related to that surgery. How are those E/M services generally treated for professional billing?

Short Explanation

Full Explanation