1. What is the Global Period?

The global period is the number of days after a surgical procedure during which all related care is included in the surgical payment. Palmetto GBA follows Medicare's global surgery policy for determining these periods.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the simple formula:

Where:

• Surgery Date — The date when the procedure was performed
• Global Days — The standard global period length for the specific procedure (typically 0, 10, or 90 days)

Explanation: The calculator adds the specified number of global days to the surgery date to determine when the global period ends.

3. Importance of Global Period Calculation

Details: Accurate calculation of the global period is essential for proper billing and to avoid duplicate payments for services that should be included in the global surgical package.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the surgery date and the number of global days for the specific procedure. The calculator will determine the end date of the global period.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are typical global period lengths?
A: Common global periods are 0 days (minor procedures), 10 days (many minor surgeries), and 90 days (major surgeries).

Q2: How do I find the global days for a specific procedure?
A: Check the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule or Palmetto GBA's fee schedule look-up tool for the specific CPT code.

Q3: Does the global period include the day of surgery?
A: Yes, the day of surgery is day 0, and the global period begins immediately after the procedure.

Q4: What services are included in the global period?
A: Typically includes all necessary services related to the surgery including follow-up visits, postoperative care, and treatment of complications.

Q5: Are there exceptions to the global period rules?
A: Yes, some services like diagnostic tests or treatment of unrelated conditions may be billed separately during the global period.