Global surgery
Find information on global surgery billing guidance and other related resources.
- Global surgery period: Use the fee lookup tool, referring to the global surgery policy indicator for global period details
- Critical care visits and global surgery
Spotlight
MLN Connects newsletter for August 6, 2026: Global surgery: Accurately report postoperative visits
OIG Report A-04-21-04083: Dermatology providers generally met Medicare requirements for evaluation and management services performed on same day as minor surgical procedures
Billing guidance and FAQs
- Global surgery calculator
- Billing FAQs
- Understanding evaluation and management
- Multiple surgeries
- Multiple endoscopic procedures
- Modifier AS - Non-physician provider as assistant at surgery
- Modifier 24 - Unrelated E/M service during postoperative global period
- Modifier 25 - Service performed on the same day of another global period procedure
- Modifier 50 - Bilateral procedure performed on both sides of the body
- Modifiers 54 and 55 - Postoperative global period co-management
- Modifier 57 - Initial decision for major surgery
- Modifier 58 - Related or staged procedure during global period
- Modifier 62 - Co-surgery
- Modifier 66 - Surgical team
- Modifier 78 - Return surgery due to complication during global period
- Modifier 79 - Unrelated procedure by same physician during postoperative global period
- Modifier 80 - Assistant surgeon providing full assistance
- Modifier 81 - Assistant surgeon providing minimal assistance (not commonly used in Medicare billing)
- Modifier 82 - Assistant surgeon (when a qualified resident surgeon is not available in a teaching facility)
- Learn how to avoid these common claim denials
Related articles
- Postoperative co-management -- modifiers 54 and 55
- Appropriate use of assistant at surgery modifiers and payment indicators
- Bilateral procedures and modifier 50