CPT codes are five-character identifiers used by healthcare providers to report services and procedures to payers like insurance companies and Medicare. Seeing an unfamiliar CPT code on a statement after a surgical procedure can be confusing. However, CPT 99024 is generally a sign of proper administrative tracking rather than a hidden charge. This code represents a medical service that is typically included in a previous payment, meaning the amount associated with it is usually zero.
What CPT 99024 Represents
CPT code 99024 is officially designated as a “Postoperative follow-up visit, normally included in the surgical package, to indicate that an evaluation and management service was performed during a postoperative period for a reason(s) related to the original procedure.” This definition signals that the code’s purpose is purely administrative documentation. It is used to report a routine, follow-up visit a patient has with their physician after surgery.
The code is an essential communication tool between the provider and the payer, confirming that the expected post-surgical care has been delivered. It serves as a receipt for a service already paid for, rather than a charge for a new one. This is why CPT 99024 has a zero monetary value associated with it; the payment for this follow-up care was included in the initial surgical fee.
Understanding the Global Surgical Period
The reason CPT 99024 exists is directly tied to the concept of the “Global Surgical Package,” also known as the Global Surgical Period (GSP). The GSP is a system that bundles all the routine services related to a surgery into one single, comprehensive payment. This single fee covers the pre-operative work, the procedure itself, and a defined period of post-operative care.
The length of this global period depends on the complexity of the procedure and is generally categorized into 0, 10, or 90 days. Minor procedures, such as a simple biopsy, may have a 0 or 10-day global period. Major surgeries typically carry a 90-day period. During this time, all related, routine follow-up visits are considered part of the single surgical payment and are not billable separately.
The post-operative care covered by this package includes services like monitoring for infection, checking wound healing, managing pain, and removing drains or sutures. Code 99024 is specifically used to track the evaluation and management visits that fall within this GSP window. This ensures the provider documents the delivery of the care that the initial fee covered. If a patient’s issue during this period is unrelated to the original surgery, that visit can be billed separately using a different CPT code and modifier.
Why This Code Appears on Your Statement
Seeing CPT 99024 on your medical statement, even with a zero charge, can understandably cause confusion. The code appears not to request payment from you, but to meet specific compliance and regulatory documentation requirements. Providers are required to submit this code to verify to payers, particularly Medicare, that the required post-operative care was actually provided.
This submission is a crucial part of the administrative process, proving that the physician upheld their end of the global surgical contract. Failure to submit the 99024 code for these zero-dollar visits could lead to compliance issues, as it might signal the patient did not receive the expected follow-up care. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) also uses the data collected from 99024 submissions to evaluate the frequency of post-surgical visits, which influences how surgical services are valued and reimbursed in the future.