AAPC Surgical Package and Global Period Rules 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which modifier is used when a surgeon makes an unplanned return to the OR for a complication related to the original procedure?
- -58
- -76
- -78 (Correct answer)
- -79
Correct answer: -78
Modifier -78 is used for an unplanned return to the operating room for a complication resulting from the original procedure.
Question 2: What preoperative period is included in the global surgical package for a major surgery?
- All visits in the 90 days before surgery
- The one day immediately before the surgery date (Correct answer)
- Visits in the 30 days before surgery
- No preoperative visits are included
Correct answer: The one day immediately before the surgery date
For major surgical procedures, the global package includes the one day immediately before the surgery date as the preoperative period.
Question 3: Which modifier should be appended to an E/M service provided during the postoperative global period for a condition unrelated to the surgery?
- -57
- -24 (Correct answer)
- -25
- -79
Correct answer: -24
Modifier -24 is appended to an E/M service to indicate it was provided during the postoperative period for a condition unrelated to the original surgery.
Question 4: If a surgeon performs only the postoperative management for a patient whose surgery was done by another physician, which modifier applies?
- -54
- -55 (Correct answer)
- -56
- -62
Correct answer: -55
Modifier -55 indicates the physician performed only the postoperative management portion of the global surgical package.
Question 5: What does CPT modifier -54 indicate when appended to a surgical code?
- Postoperative management only
- Preoperative management only
- Surgical care only, without pre- or postoperative management (Correct answer)
- Decision for surgery on the day of the procedure
Correct answer: Surgical care only, without pre- or postoperative management
Modifier -54 indicates the physician performed the surgical procedure only and did not provide pre- or postoperative management.
Question 6: During the global period, a patient's related postoperative office visit is billed. How should this be handled?
- Bill the visit with modifier -24
- The visit is included in the global package and is not billed separately (Correct answer)
- Bill the visit with modifier -25
- Bill the visit with modifier -79
Correct answer: The visit is included in the global package and is not billed separately
Postoperative visits directly related to the surgery are bundled into the global surgical package and cannot be reported separately.
AAPC Surgical Package and Global Period Rules 2
Which modifier is used when a surgeon makes an unplanned return to the OR for a complication related to the original procedure?