Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes form a standardized language used by healthcare providers and payers to describe medical procedures and services. CPT 99024 is an unusual code because it does not generate a billable charge for the patient or the insurance company. Instead, it serves as a critical tracking mechanism for specific services that have already been paid for as part of a larger medical fee.
Defining the Tracking Code
CPT code 99024 is defined as a post-operative follow-up visit included in the surgical package. Its primary function is to indicate that an evaluation and management service was performed during the post-operative period for a reason related to the original procedure. This code tracks visits that occur during the designated recovery time, known as the global period. Using 99024 signals to payers that the visit was a routine part of the patient’s recovery already accounted for in the initial surgical payment.
Providers must submit this zero-dollar code to document that the required follow-up care was delivered. The code applies to surgeries with global periods, which can be 10 days for minor procedures or 90 days for major procedures.
The Global Surgical Package Explained
The concept that justifies the zero-cost nature of CPT 99024 is the Global Surgical Package. This package is an all-inclusive concept where a single fee is billed and paid for all necessary services furnished by a surgeon before, during, and after a procedure. This bundled payment covers the entire scope of the patient’s surgical care.
The package typically includes three phases of care: pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative. For a major surgical procedure with a 90-day global period, the package starts the day before surgery and covers the 90 days following the procedure. Minor procedures may have a 10-day global period, starting on the day of the surgery.
The post-operative component of this single fee covers routine follow-up visits, pain management, monitoring for infection, and the removal of sutures or staples. Any routine evaluation and management service performed during this global period that relates to the surgery is considered part of the initial payment. CPT 99024 is the mechanism used to document these visits, confirming they should not be billed separately.
Why Zero-Cost Tracking is Essential
Reporting the zero-cost CPT 99024 is a requirement for compliance and accurate data collection. Insurance payers, particularly government programs, require documentation of all services rendered, even those that are not separately billable. Submitting the code helps ensure that the rules of the global period are followed and provides evidence that the expected post-operative care was delivered.
Accurate tracking is vital for patient safety and data accuracy in the medical record. The use of 99024 ensures the patient’s chart reflects all post-operative check-ups, supporting the continuity of care and monitoring the patient’s recovery. This data helps health systems understand the true scope of care provided, which can be reviewed during audits and quality assessments.
The code plays a practical role in distinguishing between related and unrelated care during the global period. CPT 99024 is used only when the visit is directly related to the original surgery and included in the package. If a patient visits the doctor during the global period for a new or unrelated medical issue, a different, billable code would be used instead.
This distinction prevents over-billing and ensures that only the appropriate services are paid for separately. Health organizations also use the submission frequency of 99024 to evaluate the value of surgical procedures, influencing future reimbursement rates.