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E179
E179 – Free mucous membrane graft - split thickness
OHIP Surgical Assists Code — OCULAR SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
A surgical procedure for orbital reconstruction involving the harvesting and placement of a split-thickness free mucous membrane graft. The service includes all common and specific elements of a surgical procedure as outlined in the , , and (for surgical assistants) or (for anaesthesiologists) of the Schedule.
When to Use
- Use E179 when performing a split-thickness mucous membrane graft specifically for orbital reconstruction, as distinct from full-thickness procedures.
- Select E179 for cases requiring the harvest and placement of mucosal tissue to address orbital defects where a split-thickness graft is the clinically indicated surgical approach.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing E179 in conjunction with E178 is a common error; these procedures are typically considered mutually exclusive or part of the same surgical session depending on the extent of the reconstruction.
- Failure to document the specific graft thickness and surgical site can lead to audit scrutiny, as the distinction between split-thickness and full-thickness grafts is critical for code validation.
Billing Tips
- Ensure that age-based premiums are applied correctly based on the patient's exact age at the time of the procedure, as E179 has specific tiered percentage increases for pediatric patients.
Provider Fee$296.90
Anaesthetist Fee$92.94
Non-Anaesthetist Fee$92.94
Effective: April 1, 2025
Category
Y. Ocular and Aural Surgical Procedures
Subcategory
OCULAR SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Service Type
Surgical
Code Classes
Ocular and Aural Surgical Procedures
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