J877 – Gastro-esophageal aspiration
OHIP Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Code — NUCLEAR MEDICINE - IN VIVO · Schedule of Benefits
J877 is a nuclear medicine procedure for the assessment of gastro-oesophageal aspiration. This service is divided into two components as per : - The Technical Component (H fee) is claimed using suffix 'B'. - The Professional Component (P fee) is claimed using suffix 'C'.
When to Use
- Use J877 when performing a scintigraphic scan to confirm pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents in patients with suspected gastro-esophageal reflux disease.
- Select J877 over J876 when the clinical focus is specifically on the detection of radiolabeled material in the lungs rather than general gastric emptying transit times.
Common Pitfalls
- Claiming the technical component (suffix 'B') for services performed within a hospital setting will result in an automatic rejection.
- Submitting J877 without a valid referral from a physician or nurse practitioner is a common cause for audit recovery.
- Failing to split the claim into the 'B' suffix for the technical component and the 'C' suffix for the professional component will cause the claim to fail validation.
Billing Tips
- Ensure the facility where the scan is performed is an OHIP-approved independent health facility (IHF) if you are billing the 'B' suffix, as hospital-based technical fees are strictly prohibited.
Effective: April 1, 2025
B. Nuclear Medicine - IN VIVO
NUCLEAR MEDICINE - IN VIVO
Diagnostic
Nuclear Medicine - IN VIVO
The service must be documented in the patient's medical record to establish that: an insured service was provided, the service for which the account is submitted is the service that was rendered, and the service was medically necessary.
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