Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

Question: When a surgical package is co-managed, what does the ophthalmologist need to tell the patient about the optometrist managing some of the care and the ophthalmologists responsibility for the surgery portion?

California Subscriber

Answer: The global surgical package consists of a preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative period. The day of surgery is the intraoperative portion. The post-op period for major surgeries (90-day period) starts the following day. The key to reporting your portion of the postoperative period is to ensure the patient understands who is responsible for his or her care. As an example, if your last visit is on day seven and that is all you are going to bill for, the patient needs to understand that if he or she had any problems, he or she must contact the co-managing provider, who will be responsible for the remainder of the postoperative period. As long as that is understood, the co-managing provider can bill for days 8-90. Or, if you plan on being responsible until the patients next appointment with the co-managing provider, explain that he or she must contact you up until that next appointment, and then bill for the period until the scheduled visit.