What does the term "global period" refer to in surgical coding?

The term "global period" in surgical coding refers specifically to the timeframe during which postoperative care is included in the surgical procedure fee. This concept is pivotal in surgical coding as it defines a set period following a surgical procedure during which all necessary follow-up care is considered part of the surgical service.

This means that during the global period, the surgeon or performing physician is responsible for managing any complications or additional services related to the surgery without the need for additional billing. The global period typically consists of a number of days defined by the CPT code for the surgical procedure performed, such as 0, 10, or 90 days. Each period indicates how long after the surgery-related care is covered under the initial procedure's charges.

Understanding this concept allows healthcare providers to accurately bill for surgical services while adhering to established guidelines for care post-surgery. Other choices do not encapsulate this definition; the time required for surgery preparation and the duration of actual surgery are distinct from the global period's framework, and follow-up visits after surgery might extend beyond or outside of the global period, depending on the case and specific coding guidelines.