E310 – Otoplasty for correction of outstanding ears - unilateral
OHIP Surgical Assists Code — AURAL SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
Performs a unilateral otoplasty, a surgical procedure to alter the size, shape, or position of a single protruding ear. Assistant and Anaesthesia Fee Calculation: This procedure has associated fees for surgical assistance and anaesthesia which are calculated using a unit-based system: - **Surgical Assistant (E310B):** The fee is the sum of 6 basic units plus applicable time units, multiplied by the assistant unit fee. Refer to - for detailed calculation rules. - **Anaesthesia (E310C):** The fee is the sum of 7 basic units plus applicable time units, multiplied by the anaesthesiologist unit fee. Refer to - for detailed calculation rules.
When to Use
- Use E310 for the surgical correction of a single protruding ear resulting from a documented congenital anomaly.
- Use E310 for unilateral ear reconstruction necessitated by trauma or disease, provided the documentation justifies the medical necessity over cosmetic intent.
- Use E310 when the procedure is limited to one side; for bilateral correction, you must use E311 instead.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing E310 for purely cosmetic otoplasty in patients 18 years or older is a high-risk audit trigger, as these are generally considered non-insured services.
- Failure to document the specific medical necessity (e.g., trauma or congenital deformity) in the patient record will lead to recovery of funds during a Ministry audit.
- Attempting to bill E310 alongside other ear procedures without proper modifier usage or clear clinical distinction can result in automatic rejection for duplicate or overlapping services.
Billing Tips
- Ensure the clinical record explicitly references the criteria in Appendix D if the patient is 18 or older to support the claim against potential Ministry review.
- Always verify if the procedure is truly unilateral; billing E310 twice for bilateral cases is incorrect and should be replaced by the appropriate bilateral code E311.
Effective: April 1, 2025
Y. Ocular and Aural Surgical Procedures
AURAL SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Surgical
Ocular and Aural Surgical Procedures
For patients 18 years of age or older, please see Appendix D, Sub-Surface Pathology.
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