Question: During the course of a planned surgical procedure, if the surgeon discovers some pathology requiring maneuvers that are NOT a part of the major procedure or global surgery package, something considered by the surgeon to be medically necessary and perhaps unrelated to the planned procedure, is this separately reportable? I do not have a specific example at this time.
What is known: In page 10, chapter 1 of the CMS NCCI Policy manual, it is clearly outlined what is considered integral to a planned surgical procedure… a smaller portion inclusive of a larger procedure. This chapter also covers sequential procedures, conversions, and intraoperative complications and what is not separately reportable.
But, Ch1, page 15 of NCCI Policy Manual states: "If exploration of the surgical field results in additional procedures other than the primary procedure, the additional procedures may generally be reported separately." CMS 2018 NCCI Policy Manual, Ch1, General Correct Coding Policies
Can anyone help me out with this?