tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2006 Issue 12

Reader Question ~ 'Separate Procedure' Might Not Mean What You Think

Question: What does the term -separate procedure,- as used in CPT, indicate? Does this mean that I should always report such procedures separately?New York Subscriber Answer: CPT uses a -separate procedure- designation in code descriptors to identify procedures that the physician normally performs as a part of another, more extensive procedure, but which she may, on occasion, provide independently. What not to do: Don't assume that a -separate procedure- designation means you can always report the code separately if the physician provides the service. In fact, a separate-procedure designation means that the procedure is bundled--and therefore not...

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