Can you bill an office visit when patient is referred to surgeon for port removal.

If a patient is sent to surgeon for removal of port (not performed same day) can that surgeon bill for an office visit? We are being told by another dept. that this is not billable even if the provider has not seen the patient or has not seen the patient in a very long time.

Thanks!

re: Can you bill an office visit when patient is referred to surgeon for port removal.

What would be the procedure code for the port removal? Opinion: If the surgeon knows the port is going to be removed, and wouldn't bill for the E/M if it did happen on the same day, then I wouldn't bill it in this instance. If the office visit is to determine whether, in the surgeon's view the port ought to be removed, I'd be more inclined to support the E/M.