Wiki followup visits after fracture care billed with modifier 55

[Bernadette10]

This global surgery charge was shared by 2 orthopedists and billed by Dr. B as 23615-55. The patient then had 4 followup visits in the ortho clinic by Dr. B. Would these followup visits be billed as no charge since there was a 90-day global period, or are they regular EM charges since the global period was split? Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I just wanted to make sure.

 

[thomas7331]

If there was a transfer of care, the physician performing the operative care would need to bill 23615-54 and the physician performing the post-operative care would bill 23615-55, both with the date of service as the date of the initial procedure. There would be no separate charges for the individual follow-up visits because those are included in the global surgical package.

Here's a link to a good CMS publication - the instructions for the use of these modifiers begins on page 9: Global Surgery Booklet

 

[Bernadette10]

Thank you!!!