Which statement describes the global period associated with a surgical procedure?

• A. Postoperative care only
• B. Preoperative evaluation only
• C. Pre-op services, intraoperative care, and post-op care up to 90 days
• D. Postoperative care extending beyond 90 days

Answer: (C)

The global period is the time frame during which all services related to a surgical procedure are bundled into the payment for that procedure. For major surgeries, this period is typically 90 days. Within that window, preoperative evaluation, the actual operation, and postoperative care are all considered part of the same package. Therefore, the best description is that the global period includes preoperative services, intraoperative care, and postoperative care up to 90 days. Postoperative care that extends beyond 90 days is billed separately from the initial procedure.