E302 – Endoscopy requiring post auricular or endaural incisions
OHIP Surgical Assists Code — AURAL SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
Removal of a complicated foreign body from the external ear that requires a post-auricular or endaural incision for access and extraction. The '#' prefix for this code indicates that when this service is performed in a hospital or an Integrated Community Health Services Centre (ICHSC), the provision of premises, equipment, supplies, and personnel are funded by the facility and are not separately payable to the physician. See for details.
When to Use
- Use E302 when a foreign body is deeply impacted in the external auditory canal and requires a formal post-auricular or endaural incision to gain surgical access for safe extraction.
- Use E302 for complex foreign body removals that cannot be achieved via simple trans-canal instrumentation, necessitating surgical exposure of the canal.
Common Pitfalls
- Do not bill E302 for simple foreign body removal performed under direct visualization or basic microscopy; use Z915 or Z866 for those procedures.
- Avoid billing E302 in conjunction with routine ear debridement or cleaning, as the Schedule of Benefits explicitly states that debridement for access purposes is not separately payable.
- Failure to document the specific incision type (post-auricular or endaural) in the operative report is a common audit trigger for this code.
Billing Tips
- Ensure the operative report clearly details the necessity of the incision for access, as this distinguishes E302 from lower-valued ear foreign body removal codes.
- If the procedure is performed on an emergency basis, remember to apply the appropriate After Hours Procedure Premium (E409A or E410A) to the E302 fee.
Effective: April 1, 2025
Y. Ocular and Aural Surgical Procedures
AURAL SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Surgical
Ocular and Aural Surgical Procedures
When debridement of ears under microscopy is carried out for access purposes only, no claim should be made for the debridement.
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