Which code category is used for procedures performed during the same operative session?

The correct answer pertains to Add-on Codes, which are specifically designed to indicate additional procedures that are performed during the same operative session. These codes serve to complement a primary procedure by detailing any extra surgical actions taken to enhance or supplement the primary operation.

Add-on Codes are essential as they help coders and billers accurately represent the full scope of a patient’s surgical experience and ensure appropriate reimbursement. They are typically listed as separate entries in coding manuals, with a clear note to indicate they should not be billed independently, but rather in conjunction with a primary procedure.

In the context of coding, Stand Alone Codes refer to those that can be reported independently without the need for any additional codes. Indented Codes usually indicate a hierarchical relationship in codes, where the indented code is a more detailed version of the primary code above it, offering further specificity. Modifiers, on the other hand, provide additional information about a service that may affect how the procedure was performed or make it distinct from other similar procedures. However, these do not specifically pertain to the concept of procedures performed during the same operative session as directly as Add-on Codes do.