Discharge Day billing in the surgical global period

We work with a group of surgeons as NPPs (there are 7 of us). Can we bill 99238 or 99239 for discharge planning if the patient is in their surgical global period?

re: Discharge Day billing in the surgical global period

The global surgery period includes pre-op, intraop & post op management. This would include discharge planning using codes 99238, 99239, which would not be separately billable by the group. You can find CMS directives about this under their global surgery publications.

re: Discharge Day billing in the surgical global period

I did not see discharge planning specifically included in the post-op management section of the CMS directive, hence my query.

re: Discharge Day billing in the surgical global period

In a recent audit in which I was involved, the provider had billed 99238-99239 when discharging the patient after surgery. Although this was not the primary focus of the audit, it had occurred multiple times. Charge denied by payer; inclusion in the post operative management, not separately billable, subject to recovery of funds. Unless you have language in a private payer contract that specifically allows the post surgical billing of these codes, I would not recommend doing so. The pattern is easily tracked by payer edits.

re: Discharge Day billing in the surgical global period

Thank you very much!