tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2003 Issue 6

Global-Period Lengths Vary

Under Medicare guidelines as established by the Physician Fee Schedule, there are four primary global period classifications: 90-day, 10-day, zero-day and ZZZ (private payers may either follow Medicare guidelines or set their own). "Major" surgeries are those to which Medicare has assigned a 90-day global period. The global period begins one day prior to surgery and includes all services as outlined in CPT(see page 43). Most procedures familiar to general surgery coders qualify as major surgeries. CMS assigns "minor" surgeries, including endoscopic procedures, a 10- or zero-day global period. The 10-day period begins the day of the surgery, while...

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