What section of the Current Procedural Terminology contains the definition of a separate procedure?

The term "Separate Procedure" is part of the nomenclature found in the AMA Current Procedural Terminology® (CPT), in the "Surgery Guidelines" found in the front section of the book (page 45 in the 2007 Professional Edition). The guidelines state that some of the procedures and services listed in the CPT code-book that are commonly carried out as integral components of a total service or procedure have been identified by the term "separate procedure."

The CPT surgery guidelines further state that the codes listed as "separate procedure" should not be reported in addition to the code for the total procedure or service. In other Words, report a separate procedure if it is not performed with a primary procedure that encompasses the "separate" one, or when it adds "appreciably to the time and/or complexity of the procedure."