What is NOT included in the definition of a surgical package?

The correct answer, postoperative rehabilitation, is not included in the definition of a surgical package because surgical packages typically cover the services directly related to the surgical procedure itself. A surgical package includes preoperative evaluation, the surgery itself, and normal postoperative care that is necessary for recovery from the procedure, such as follow-up visits and management of any immediate postoperative complications.

Postoperative rehabilitation, however, involves additional services that focus on restoring function and recovery following surgery but are not considered necessary for the immediate surgical care. This may include physical therapy or other rehabilitation services that occur after the standard postoperative period and are seen as separate from the surgical package defined by CPT.

In contrast, normal postoperative care, local infiltration, and preoperative evaluation are integral components of the surgical package. Normal postoperative care includes the monitoring and management during the recovery process immediately after surgery, local infiltration refers to the anesthesia typically administered during the procedure, and preoperative evaluation is part of the planning required before a surgery takes place, which prepares the patient for the procedure. Each of these elements is considered essential to the overall management of the patient within the surgical package.