Medicare 2015 proposed fee schedule rule would eliminate global surgical packages: 4 things to know

The Medicare 2015 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule would eliminate 10- and 90-day global periods for all CPT procedure codes, according to an AAPC report. Here are four things to know about this element of the proposed rule.

1. The proposed rule argues that 10- and 90-day global periods often lead to inaccurate payments. Under the proposed rule the global periods would be eliminated beginning in 2017.

2. In 2017, procedures with 10-day global periods would transition to 0-day global periods, while procedures with 90-day global periods would transition to 0-day global periods in 2018.

3. All codes would be revalued to exclude services previously included within the global period. Providers would be allowed to report "medically reasonable and necessary visits" made separately during time outside the day of the surgical procedure.

4. CMS will accept comments on the proposed rule through September 2.

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