Coding Corner: When is a Post-op Visit Not a ‘Post-op Visit’ | Kimberly Levinson, MD, MPH
Kimberly Levinson, MD, MPH
The post-operative period has variable length depending on the procedure (0, 10, or 90 days), and specific post-operative services are included in the global surgery payment. However, there are times when a patient may be seen during the post-operative period where the services rendered should not be considered part of the global and are billable separately.
Post-op services included in the global period
- Miscellaneous services
- Dressing changes
- Local incisional care
- Removal of operative packing or closing material (i.e. staple removal)
- Insertion, irrigation, or removal of urinary catheters
- Intravenous lines, nasogastric tubes, rectal tubes
- Removal of tracheostomy tubes
- Post-operative pain management
- Complications from a surgery
- Complications related to the surgical procedure that do NOT require a return to the operating room are included in the global package
- A patient’s room, recovery room, ICU, or a minor treatment room are NOT considered an operating room and services provided in these locations can NOT be billed separately
- Complications related to the surgical procedure that do NOT require a return to the operating room are included in the global package