What is the global surgical package and what does it typically include?

• A. The standard post-operative period encompassed by the procedure; included services typically not billed separately during the global period.
• B. Pre-operative diagnostic tests only.
• C. Anesthesia only.
• D. Radiology during surgery.

Answer: (A)

Global surgical package refers to the bundled set of services tied to a single surgical procedure, covering the preoperative evaluation, the surgery itself, and postoperative care within a defined postoperative period. The crucial idea is that routine postoperative care is included in the global period and typically not billed separately within that timeframe. The exact length of the global period (0, 10, or 90 days) depends on the procedure, and services outside that period or unrelated issues would be billed separately.