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E005
E005 – Replacement surgical assistant or anaesthesiologist
OHIP Surgical Assists Code · Schedule of Benefits
This code is used when a surgical assistant or anaesthesiologist who started a procedure is replaced by another physician of the same role during the course of a surgical procedure or delivery.
When to Use
- Use E005B or E005C when a mid-procedure shift change occurs due to fatigue or scheduled relief, provided the replacement physician assumes the full role for the remainder of the case.
- Apply E005C during a prolonged delivery or surgical case where the primary anaesthesiologist is relieved by a colleague, ensuring the replacement physician does not bill the primary anaesthesia base units.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing E005C for continuous conduction anaesthesia, which is explicitly prohibited; the replacement must use the appropriate continuous conduction code instead.
- Attempting to bill E005 when the replacement physician is a partner or colleague covering a portion of the case without a formal handoff of the entire surgical assistant or anaesthesia responsibility.
- Failing to document the precise start and stop times for both the original and replacement physicians, which is the primary trigger for audit recovery.
Billing Tips
- Ensure the replacement physician bills the 6 base units associated with E005 while the original physician retains the primary procedure base units to avoid duplicate billing of the base fee.
- When billing E005B or E005C for after-hours cases, ensure the premium (E400/E401 series) is linked to the start time of the original procedure to maintain eligibility.
Provider Fee$0.00
Surgical Assistant Fee$77.46
Anaesthetist Fee$95.76
Non-Anaesthetist Fee$95.76
Effective: April 1, 2026
Service Type
Surgical Assistant / Anaesthesia
Code Classes
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