Otolaryngology Coding Alert

Question: Codes 10060 and 10061 have a 10-day global fee. If the patient, however, continues to have follow-up visits outside the global period, would it be appropriate to report the E/M level that is supported for the services received? Example: We report 10061 on 6/15/09 -- so any related visits billed through 6/25/09 would be considered global. Patient then has additional follow-up visits on: 6/26, 6/30, 7/3, 7/7, 7/10, and 7/14. What is the best way (if any) to bill for the six follow-up visits provided outside the global period? Does modifier 24 apply? New York Subscriber Answer: Technically, you should code each of the medically necessary office visits (99212-99215) that the doctor provides outside the 10-day global fee with no modifier. Do not code (or bill) the visits during the global period. Payment for the global period per Medicare is based on the number of follow-up visits typically performed [...]