All codes
E525
E525 – Localization with mammographic wire or radioactive seeds
OHIP Surgical Assists Code — INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
This is an add-on code to be claimed in addition to the fee for the primary excision procedure. It is payable for R107 (Tumour or tissue for diagnostic biopsy and/or treatment) or R111 (Partial mastectomy or wedge resection for treatment of breast disease) when the procedure is performed after localization with a mammographic wire or radioactive seeds.
When to Use
- Claim E525 when performing an excisional biopsy (R107) for a non-palpable breast lesion that required pre-operative needle localization.
- Claim E525 when performing a partial mastectomy or lumpectomy (R111) where radioactive seed localization (RSL) was utilized to guide the surgical resection.
Common Pitfalls
- Attempting to claim E525 as a standalone service; it is strictly an add-on code and will be rejected if not billed with an eligible primary procedure like R107 or R111.
- Billing E525 for palpation-guided excisions where no wire or radioactive seed localization was performed, which constitutes an audit risk for inappropriate billing.
Billing Tips
- Ensure the primary procedure (R107 or R111) is listed first on the claim, followed by E525, to ensure the system correctly identifies the add-on relationship.
- If the procedure qualifies for after-hours premiums (E409 or E410), apply the percentage increase to the primary procedure fee, but note that E525 itself is a fixed add-on fee.
Ready to bill this code?
SnapBill makes OHIP billing simple — auto-filled codes, validation, and batch submission.