October 9, 2025
A global period in medical billing refers to the timeframe (0, 10, or 90 days) following a surgical procedure during which all related preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative services are bundled into a single payment.
This prevents duplicate billing for follow-up care tied to the original procedure.
Tool Recommendation: Track global periods using billing software like Epic or Medisoft to avoid overlaps.
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| Global Period | Length | Example Procedures | Billing Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-Day | Same day only | Endoscopies, simple biopsies, and minor dermatology procedures | Only the day of service is included. Follow-ups can be billed separately. |
| 10-Day | Day of procedure + 10 days | Simple wound repairs, minor surgeries | Routine post-op visits in this period are bundled. No separate billing. |
| 90-Day | Day of procedure + 90 days | Major surgeries (e.g., joint replacements, open-heart surgery) | All routine post-op visits, dressing changes, and suture removals are included. |
The global period in medical billing is essential for accurate claims and compliance. Providers and billing teams can avoid denials and ensure proper reimbursement by knowing whether a procedure has a 0, 10, or 90-day global period. While routine follow-up care is included, new or unrelated conditions may still be billable with the right modifiers. Staying updated with Medicare and payer-specific rules is the key to preventing costly mistakes.
If your practice struggles with navigating global periods or modifier usage, partnering with a trusted medical billing service can help secure revenue and reduce compliance risks.
Global periods are usually 0 days, 10 days, or 90 days, depending on the procedure. For example, minor procedures may have a 0β10 day global period, while major surgeries often come with a 90-day period. The exact timeframe is defined by Medicare and other payers.
The global period helps providers avoid claim denials and ensures compliance with payer rules. Billing separately for services already included in the global package can trigger audits, delayed payments, or recoupments.
No. Only routine post-operative care is included. If a patient develops a new, unrelated condition, or requires services outside the standard recovery, those can often be billed separately with the right modifier (such as modifier 24 for unrelated E/M visits).
Not always. But Medicare sets the standard, some private insurers may have different policies or global period lengths. Itβs important for billing teams to verify payer-specific rules before submitting claims.
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