How should minor procedures be billed if an office visit occurs before the procedure?

When billing for minor procedures that occur after an office visit, it's critical to document that the office visit involved a significant and separately identifiable service from the procedure being performed. This means that in order for both the office visit and the minor procedure to be appropriately billed, the visit must be more than a routine evaluation and have clear documentation indicating why the office visit warranted a separate evaluation.

This requirement primarily aligns with the principles of proper coding and billing practices, intended to ensure that healthcare providers are compensated for all services rendered. When the office visit is distinct and provides substantial evaluation, it can be billed separately, maximizing compliance with guidelines set forth by coding authorities.

The context also clarifies that minor procedures should not simply be bundled with the office visit unless the visit does not involve a significant service; therefore, the documentation is crucial in justifying the separate billing. The other options either suggest that the office visit cannot be billed at all, that it should be bundled with the procedure, or that it may only be billed if performed on the same day, which does not accurately reflect the guidelines for separately identifiable services.