Wiki Global Period Question

[maryv22]

Hello,

If a resident or a fellow (non-billable) from Urology performs a major surgery (90 day global period), can the following days (subsequent visits) be billed by the Urology Attending physician since the Attending did not perform the surgery?

Please advise.

Thanks,
Mary V., RHIA, CPMA

 

[mcpalmeter]

From a Medicare Part B perspective, the teaching physician must be present for the key components of the surgical procedure and immediately available for the entire case. If the surgical procedure is not billed, then the global period is not applicable. Any post-surgical E/M visits could be billed as long as the teaching physician followed the teaching physician guidelines for E/M visits; i.e., the teaching physician would have to personally document that the teaching physician performed the service or was physically present during the key or critical portions of the service when performed by the resident; and the teaching physician must also document his or her participation in the management of the patient.