What is not coded separately in surgical procedures?

The reason inspection to achieve the objective of the procedure is not coded separately is that it is typically considered an inherent part of the surgical procedure itself. In surgical coding, functions that are essential to reach the goals of the surgery, such as inspecting the surgical site or the surrounding structures, are included within the overall code for the procedure. This helps to streamline documentation and coding, focusing on the primary surgical task rather than itemizing every aspect of the operation, which would lead to unnecessary complexity.

In contrast, inspections that are performed solely for preparation or as a preliminary step related to further procedures might be coded separately under certain circumstances. Therefore, distinguishing between essential inspections related to the core procedure and other assessments that are supplementary is important in surgical coding.