Ear, nose and throat · global periods

Ear, nose and throat global periods.

The ENT procedures with a CMS global package, and how long it runs. Inside the package, routine post-operative visits are 99024; anything else needs the right modifier.

2025 PFS

Commercial payers usually follow CMS global periods but may not; check the contract.

Procedures and their global period.

Global periods as assigned in the 2025 CMS Physician Fee Schedule. Commercial payers usually follow CMS but may not. Confirm before billing.

Ear, nose and throat procedures with global periods
CodeDescriptionWork RVUGlobal
31231Nasal endoscopy, diagnostic, unilateral or bilateral0.94000
31237Nasal or sinus endoscopy, surgical, with biopsy, polypectomy or debridement—000
31575Laryngoscopy, flexible, diagnostic0.94000
31579Laryngoscopy, flexible or rigid, with stroboscopy—000
69210Removal of impacted cerumen requiring instrumentation, unilateral0.61000
69436Tympanostomy (ventilating tube insertion), general anesthesia—010
42820Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, younger than age 12—090
42826Tonsillectomy, age 12 or over—090
30140Submucous resection of inferior turbinate—090
30520Septoplasty or submucous resection with or without cartilage scoring—090
60220Total thyroid lobectomy, unilateral—090
000
0-day global: the visit on the day of the procedure is included; visits afterwards are billed.
010
10-day global: routine post-operative visits for 10 days are included in the fee.
090
90-day global: the day before, the day of and 90 days of routine post-operative care are included.

Inside the package.

  • Included: the day before (90-day only), the day of, routine post-operative visits (report 99024), dressing changes, suture removal and the usual complications treated in the office.
  • Not included: a return to the operating room (modifier 78), an unrelated problem (24 for a visit, 79 for a procedure), a staged procedure (58), and the visit where surgery was decided (57 for 90-day, 25 for 10-day).
  • The receptionist’s post-op confirmation calls and screening pages fall inside the package too; they cost the practice minutes, not claims.

CPT codes and wRVUsICD-10 codesAll ear, nose and throat references

A receptionist that knows ENT calls.

Post-op screening forms your surgeons approve, the on-call paged with answers, and confirmation calls before and after the operation.