Wiki Preop before surgery

[cherylann.knighton]

hi! Just confused this morning, I think.
Surgeon decides to have surgery for patient in one month. Patient comes in a week prior to surgery for a preoperative H&P with the NP. Can I bill an e/m code for the preoperative visit? thanks!!

 

[mcnaryk]

hi! Just confused this morning, I think.
Surgeon decides to have surgery for patient in one month. Patient comes in a week prior to surgery for a preoperative H&P with the NP. Can I bill an e/m code for the preoperative visit? thanks!!

Yes. Per the CPT guidelines, what's included in the Surgical Package is "one related E/M encounter on the date immediately prior to or on the date of the procedure". So, if your NP is seeing the patient 1 week before surgery, it's a regular, billable, E/M.