M012 – Septoplasty
OHIP Ophthalmology Code — RESPIRATORY SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
Subtotal or partial thyroidectomy. In addition to the common elements, this surgical service includes the following specific elements as per the Surgical Preamble (:529): - Supervising the preparation of and/or preparing the patient for the procedure(s). - Performing the procedure(s), by any method, and carrying out appropriate recovery room procedures, being responsible for the transfer of the patient to the recovery room, ongoing monitoring and detention during the immediate post-operative and recovery period. - Making arrangements for any related assessments or procedures, including obtaining any specimens from the patient and interpreting the results where appropriate. - Where indicated, making or supervising the making of arrangements for follow-up care, and post-procedure monitoring of the patient's condition, including intervening, until the first post-operative visit. - Discussion with, providing any advice and information, including prescribing therapy, to the patient or patient's representative, whether by telephone or otherwise, on matters related to the service. - The fee for this service also includes pre-operative hospital visits which take place 1 or 2 days prior to surgery, and post-operative care and visits associated with the procedure for up to two weeks post-operatively for a hospital in-patient, except for the first and second post-operative visits and the day of discharge visit by the MRP.
When to Use
- Use M012 for the surgical correction of a deviated nasal septum, typically performed to improve nasal airway obstruction.
- Use this code when performing a subtotal or partial thyroidectomy as the primary surgical procedure.
Common Pitfalls
- Do not bill for an assistant at surgery (suffix B), as the assistant fee for M012 is nil.
- Avoid billing for routine post-operative visits within the first two weeks, as these are included in the global surgical fee, except for the first and second post-operative visits and the day of discharge visit by the MRP.
- Failure to document the specific surgical technique or the necessity of the procedure can lead to audit risks regarding the 'subtotal or partial' classification.
Billing Tips
- If you perform an unrelated and significant assessment for a different body system during the same visit as the surgery, claim the assessment code separately in addition to M012.
- Ensure the BMI is explicitly recorded in the medical record if you intend to claim the E676A morbidly obese add-on for eligible major surgical procedures.
Effective: April 1, 2025
P. Respiratory Surgical Procedures
RESPIRATORY SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Surgical
Endocrine Surgical Procedures
Assistance at surgery (suffix 'B') is not eligible for payment for this procedure, as the assistant fee is 'nil'.
Ready to bill this code?
SnapBill makes OHIP billing simple — auto-filled codes, validation, and batch submission.