E901 – Operating microscope
OHIP Surgical Assists Code — NEUROLOGICAL SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
This is an add-on fee, payable in addition to the primary surgical fee, for the use of an operating microscope. It is applicable to the following procedures: - N103: Craniotomy plus excision - supratentorial - N151: Craniotomy plus excision - infratentorial - N152: Craniotomy plus lobectomy - N102: Meningioma and other tumourous lesions, including pituitary tumours - supratentorial - N153: Meningioma and other tumourous lesions, including pituitary tumours - infratentorial or basal - N105: Intracranial aneurysm repair - Carotid circulation - per vessel - N154: Intracranial aneurysm repair - Vertebrobasilar circulation, including aneurysm of vein of Galen - N106: Cerebral vascular malformation - supratentorial - N155: Cerebral vascular malformation - infratentorial - N129: Posterior fossa decompression for Arnold Chiari malformation - N211: Craniotomy with removal of orbital tumour - N213: Craniotomy for decompression of optic nerve(s).
When to Use
- Use E901 when performing an intracranial aneurysm repair (N105 or N154) where the operating microscope is essential for microvascular dissection.
- Apply E901 when conducting a craniotomy for tumour excision (N102 or N103) to facilitate precise tissue resection under magnification.
- Use E901 during a posterior fossa decompression for Arnold Chiari malformation (N129) to ensure safe visualization of the neural structures.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing E901 with procedures not explicitly listed in the Schedule of Benefits, such as spinal surgeries, will result in an automatic rejection.
- Attempting to claim E901 as a standalone fee without an associated primary surgical code (e.g., N151 or N211) will lead to a claim denial.
- Submitting E901 when using loupes or other non-microscopic magnification tools is an audit risk, as the code specifically requires an operating microscope.
Billing Tips
- Ensure the primary surgical code (e.g., N106 or N155) and E901 are submitted on the same claim to ensure the add-on logic triggers correctly.
- Verify that the operative report explicitly mentions the use of the operating microscope to support the E901 claim in the event of a post-payment audit.
Effective: April 1, 2026
X. Neurological Surgical Procedures
NEUROLOGICAL SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Premium
Other Premiums (including After Hours Procedure Premiums), Neurological Surgical Procedures
Payable to the surgeon as an addition to the primary procedure fee when an operating microscope is used.
Ready to bill this code?
SnapBill makes OHIP billing simple — auto-filled codes, validation, and batch submission.