As a mid-size orthopedic practice underwent a recent audit, a surgeon found out that his staff had been reporting post-op visits in the global surgery period incorrectly, which resulted in temporary payment holdsand highlighted a nationwide issue. With the Medicare Global Surgery Updates 2025, accurate reporting and billing have become more critical than ever.
This guide contains a description of all significant changes in coding, billing, and documentation associated with the Medicare Global Period, such as updated regulations of CPT 99024, new reporting, and altered definitions of global packages.
As a surgeon, biller, practice manager, or member of a medical billing company, and are seeking to enhance compliance with the Centers for Medicare, this article offers all you need to be ahead of the pack by CY 2025.
What is the global period of medical billing?
Global period in medical billing is the period of time during which all the routine pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative services are encompassed in a single bundle payment. This model is used by Medicare to prevent the separate billing of the care, which is regarded as a part of the surgical package.
Categories of Global Surgery Periods 2025 will be the same
Still in 2025, CMS separates surgeries into:
- 0-day global period -Only the day of the procedure is included.
- 10 days of international coverage- Minor surgery and less than post-operative care under the global surgery payment guidelines.
- 90-day worldwide option- Significant operations that need long-term care.
Each category identifies the services that will be bundled and those that can be independently billed. For official definitions and details, refer to the CMS Global Surgery Data Collection.
Improved Medicare Global Surgery Updates 2025
CMS has presented a number of important changes in the manner in which providers report services during the Medicare global period. These Medicare Global Surgery Updates 2025 primarily impact documentation requirements, post-operative visit tracking, and the correct reporting of global period CPT codes.
1. Post-Op Visits (CPT 99024) Mandatory Reporting (Updated Requirements)
The biggest modification is the increase in the number of reported CPT code 99024.
CPT Code 99024 – Description for 2025
Normal post-operative care (visit after surgery) was included in the global surgery fee.
CMS has introduced a higher number of providers, such as orthopedic, general surgery, ophthalmology, OB-GYN, and podiatry providers, to report all the post-op visits that are within the global surgery period, irrespective of the complexity of the patient.
Why This Matters
- CMS utilizes 99024 data to examine whether global packages are to be redesigned.
- The lack of 99024 reporting can prompt audits and withholding of payments.
- It is important documentation when conducting RAC and MAC reviews.
2. Enlarged Tracking of the Medical Billing Global Period
MS has enhanced auditing facilities in 2025 to carry out surveillance on the usage of global period CPT code bundles by practices.
Key updates include:
- Date of service/surgical claims cross-matching, in an automated manner.
- Greater examination of E/M visits billed during the global period.
- Stricter limitations concerning the use of modifiers (mostly modifiers 24, 25, and 79).
When you charge an E/M visit within a 10 or 90 day global surgery, you now have to better explain your medical necessity than previously. Partnering with a professional revenue cycle management team can help streamline this process.
3. Medicare Global Period Documentation Requirement (New 2025)
Now you need to keep real-time records of all post-operative experiences.
New Requirements:
- Accurate time and date of all post-op visits.
- Is the separate billing of the visit appropriate, or should it be covered under CPT 99024?
- Connection of all notes to the operative report.
- Clear records of complications that warrant unwarranted E/M billing.
This is applicable in practices that use manual and EHR-integrated documentation systems and is closely tied to proper medical billing and coding services.
4. Global Surgery Period Billing (2025 Clarifications) and Telehealth
CMS clarified that:
- The global surgery package includes telehealth after surgery visits.
- They should be billed using CPT 99024 where necessary.
- Separate billing may be done for other telehealth visits that are not related to the medical necessity.
This is why specialized telehealth billing services are critical for compliance.
Rules: What Can and Cannot Be Billed in 2025 Global Period CPT Code Rules
CPT code bundling rules on the global period remain effective in the year 2025, but CMS has increased its enforcement.
Bundled: Global Surgery Period:
- Pre-op H&P
- Surgical procedure
- Typical post-op follow-ups
- Suture removal
- Surgery-associated pain management.
- Minor wound care
Not Included (Billable Separately):
- Complications treatment that involves extra services related to evaluation and management.
- Diagnostic testing.
- Unrelated E/M visits may affect global surgery payment.
- Non-routine wound care.
- Further operations in the recovery process.
Real-Life Case: The Impact of 2025 Changes to a Surgical Practice
An example of a general surgeon in Texas is one who conducted a hernia repair (90-day global period). Her employees did not record the post-op visits with the CPT 99024 because they did not think the visit needed to be documented.
When Medicare provides an audit of the practice:
- 99024 data was missing
- A number of E/M visits were raised.
- The practice was forced to pay back in excess of 18,000.
Once they updated their work processes and employed a professional billing team, their revenue and compliance rates increased greatly.
That is why it is essential to learn about the global surgery period regulations in 2025 to be able to apply them among the U.S. providers.
Global Period to Surgery: Major Timelines in 2025
Knowledge of precise timelines assists in minimizing refusals.
0-Day Global Period
- Applies to minor procedures.
- No follow-up days included.
- Sample: Basic biopsies, injections.
10-Day Global Period
- Day of surgery + 10 days after surgery.
- No pre-op included.
- Sample: Surgery on minor parts of the skin, partial endoscopies.
90-Day Global Period
- 1 day pre-operative care.
- Day of surgery.
- 90 days post-operative care.
- E.g., orthopedic operations, abdominal operations.
You must ensure that you verify the classification of your surgery during a global period before billing.
How to Remain Global Surgery Billing Compliant in 2025 Checklist
To prevent audit and denials, be sure your practice:
- Uses CPT 99024 consistently.
- Records all post-operative visits.
- Audits world period claims in one month.
- EHR Tracks follow-ups.
- Uses modifiers accurately.
- Monitors CMS updates.
- Educates staff regularly.
An organization of the workflow is the key to remaining in compliance with the updated Medicare global period regulations.
The Reason to Collaborate with Experts
Under these broadened 2025 Medicare laws, a large number of surgical practices give the decision to outsource to billing professionals.
A Medical Coding Company of professionals will ensure:
- Precise mapping of world time scales.
- Clean claim submission
- Reduced denials and audits
- Improved reimbursements
- Consistent compliance
Hiring experts assists your practice in keeping up with the changes in CMS policies.
Conclusion
The Medicare Global Surgery Updates 2025 are aimed at enhancing transparency and accuracy and avoiding the misuse of payments. The changes are more so the 99024 required reporting and the harsh rules on documentation, which require providers to remain alert in order to prevent denials and audits.
In case your practice requires professional assistance to get through such complicated period rules in this global world, you may outsource it to a reliable partner. Providers Care Billing LLC offers service to clients that is end-to-end, accurate, and compliant, and benefits the revenue.
Are you prepared to enhance your compliance and increase reimbursements? Call us now to simplify your 2025 international surgery accounting.
📞 Call Now: 888-495-3786
📧 Email: Info@providerscarebilling.com
FAQs
What will be the global surgery code in 2025?
There is no global code of surgery as such. Instead, each surgical operation is given a different CPT/ HCPCS code, and Medicare provides a global period indicator (e.g., 000, 010, 090) to indicate whether it is a global surgery package according to the 2025 regulations.
What are the new changes to Medicare 2025?
Among the major changes are increased use of the transfer-of-care modifier -54 when a surgeon solely does the procedure (no postop care) and introduction of an additional code G0559 in case of postoperative care when the follow-up was done by another provider.
What is the worldwide surgical package of Medicare?
The global surgical package (also known as the global period) is a bundled payment that includes all routine pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative services involving a surgery over a specified time (0, 10, or 90 days).
What are the services that are covered under the surgical global package?
Common services provided are pre-operative assessment, surgery (intra-operative), and standard post-operative treatment – such as follow-up appointments, removal of sutures, changing of dressings, catheter/drain management, wound care, and other treatment typically associated with recovery.
