Which of the following best describes the role of E/M services in the context of global surgery?

E/M services, or evaluation and management services, have specific billing guidelines when it comes to global surgery, which encompasses the operation and the related pre-operative and post-operative care within a defined period. In the context of global surgery, it is essential to understand that such services are generally bundled into the surgical fee during the global period, meaning that they are not separately reimbursable on the day of the procedure or for a specified time afterward.

The global period typically includes the day of the surgery as well as additional follow-up days, during which any related E/M services are considered part of the surgical package. Therefore, if an individual provider is billing for E/M on the day of surgery, or during the global period, it would typically not be reimbursed separately, as they are deemed to be included in the surgery payment.

This information highlights the nature and limitations of E/M billing within the framework of surgical services, emphasizing the bundling effect that occurs in the global surgery payment model.