It can depend on the documentation a little bit and carrier (if they follow strictly by MCR global rules).
Did the course of treatment change from the surgical procedure? If yes - you can bill a separate E/M with a modifier 24 added. This type of situation happens a lot with oncology physicians that remove a tumor then a new treatment plan is initiated postop as they did not know what kind of cancer the patient had until the surgery.
But if just the findings are given and no change has occured to the treatment plan, then No a separate E/M would not be billable as the patient would be recovering normally from the procedure.
Per CPT:
“Followup care for diagnostic procedures includes only that care related to
recovery from the diagnostic procedure itself. Care of the condition
for which the diagnostic procedure was performed or of other co-existing
conditions is not included.�
MCR (from the March 2011 Coding Edge)
Medicare's definition of the global package is broader than the
AMA's, but clearly states, “Services not included in the global surgical
package are as follows:
• The initial consultation or evaluation of the problem by the
surgeon to determine the need for surgery [procedure];
• Treatment for the underlying condition or an added course of
treatment, which is not part of normal recovery from surgery;• Diagnostic tests and procedures, including diagnostic radiological procedures.â€�