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General Surgery Coding Alert

READER QUESTION:

Pre-Op Visits Require Medical Necessity

Published on Sun Jun 01, 2003

Question: Our surgeon wants to send a patient back to her primary-care physician (PCP) for clearance for surgery. Can he do that, and if he can, does that mean the PCP has performed the preoperative portion of the global service? Virginia Subscriber Answer: Yes, the surgeon can send the patient to the PCP, as long as medical necessity supports the need for the clearance. For example, PCP clearance may be appropriate for a patient with congestive heart failure and poorly controlled diabetes who needs a cholecystectomy.

PCP clearance, however, would not replace the surgeons normal preoperative services. Your surgeon will still need to examine the patient on the day of surgery to determine if there are any contraindications or changes that should be noted prior to beginning surgery.This examination will fulfill the requirements of the preoperative exam.  
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