Global period

[Jean Ngan]

This question is for Laureen. I know that you have covered this in your Blitz. Can you go over and explain more in detail again how to answer a 0, 10, 90 days global period question? What keywords to look for in order to draw out the answers?~ Jean

 

[Laureen]

Hi Jean,

If you have a specific question that would help. But I'll try without it. On the board exam they are not going to use examples where you'd need to look up what the global period is. They will use examples that are clearly a major surgery and have a 90 day global period. Then they will probably describe a scenerio a few weeks past surgery so you know the patient is indeed in a global period. That is when you pick the best modifier to explain the situation.

0 global days are usually for minor procedures that don't break the skin
10 global days are usually for minor procedures that do break the skin
90 global days are for major surgeries

Medicare uses the fee schedule database to let us know what global period they are assigning. Many payers use Medicare's table and some extend it.

HTH

 

[Jean Ngan]

Is it save to say that when the senerio is asking for the profession component then the answer for the question will have a -26 modifier next to the code. If it is asking for the Technical component then the answer will need a -TC. The code that has Supervision and Interpretion will automaticall have a modifier-26? What if the code description in the book indicates interpretation and report ONLY? From a senerio standpoint on the board exam, do I still need a -26 modifier or not for interpretation and report ONLY?

 

[Dawnelle]

If the code description says interpretation and report, you shouldn't need a -26 because its already designated as a professional component.

 

[Ruth Sheets]

This question was also covered in the December 2012 Q&A Webinar. View the replay at www.cco.us and click on Q and A Webinar Replay link. This is a replay club so you get access to all the past replays as well as future ones.