E023 – Anaesthesia service for specific ocular, EUA, and cystoscopy procedures.
OHIP Surgical Assists Code · Schedule of Benefits
Anaesthesia service (Deep sedation, general anaesthesia or regional anaesthesia) rendered by an anaesthesiologist in support of specific ocular surgeries, examinations under anaesthesia (EUA), or cystoscopy. This code replaces the listed basic units and time units for the supported procedures, allowing for the billing of 6 basic units plus time units and extra units.
When to Use
- Use E023 when providing deep sedation or general anaesthesia for cataract extraction (E140) or scleral fixation (E138) to replace standard basic unit calculations.
- Apply E023 for diagnostic cystoscopy (Z606) or repeat cystoscopy (Z607) when the level of sedation meets the criteria for deep sedation or general anaesthesia.
- Utilize E023 for examinations under anaesthesia (Z432) when performed by an anaesthesiologist, ensuring the procedure is distinct from simple procedural sedation.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing E003C for monitoring during ocular procedures (E138-E146, E186, E187, E149) is strictly prohibited when E023 is claimed.
- Submitting E023 for procedural sedation will result in rejection, as the code is strictly limited to deep sedation or general anaesthesia.
- Attempting to bill the anaesthesia suffix 'C' alongside the primary procedure code when E023 is already present will cause a duplicate payment error.
Billing Tips
- Ensure you append eligible extra units from the GP97 list to E023 to maximize the claim value, as these are permitted add-ons.
- Verify that the anaesthesiologist is a separate provider from the surgeon, as E023 is ineligible if the same physician performs both the procedure and the anaesthesia.
Effective: April 1, 2026
Anaesthesia
Anaesthesia Service
Procedural Sedation is defined as a drug-induced depression of consciousness during which patients respond purposefully to verbal commands. It is NOT eligible for E023C.
Deep Sedation is defined as a drug-induced depression of consciousness during which patients cannot be easily aroused but respond purposefully following repeated or painful stimulation. It IS eligible for E023C.
General Anaesthesia is defined as a drug-induced loss of consciousness during which patients are not arousable, even by painful stimulation. It IS eligible for E023C.
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