M033 – Closure or opening of nostril for atrophic rhinitis
OHIP Ophthalmology Code — RESPIRATORY SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
This billing code corresponds to a surgical procedure: 'Closure or opening of nostril for atrophic rhinitis', listed under the P. Respiratory Surgical Procedures section. Its application is governed by the general and surgical preambles. The fee includes pre-operative and post-operative care as outlined in the Surgical Preamble (:529). This procedure is eligible for anaesthesia services (7 units as per ), and assistant services are not payable.
When to Use
- Use M033 for the surgical closure of a nostril (e.g., Young's procedure) specifically indicated for the management of severe, medically refractory atrophic rhinitis.
- Use M033 for the subsequent surgical reopening of a previously closed nostril once the nasal mucosa has sufficiently recovered or the clinical indication for closure has resolved.
Common Pitfalls
- Do not attempt to bill an assistant fee (M033B) for this procedure, as the schedule explicitly assigns zero units for assistant services.
- Avoid billing M033 in conjunction with other nasal or sinus procedures without applying the 85% reduction rule for secondary procedures, as per SP3:531.
- Failure to document the specific diagnosis of atrophic rhinitis in the operative report can lead to audit rejections, as this code is procedure-specific to that condition.
Billing Tips
- Ensure you correctly apply the appropriate age-based fee premium (e.g., AGE_PREMIUM_UNDER_16_YEARS) if the patient qualifies, as this is a surgical procedure eligible for these modifiers.
- If the procedure is performed on an emergency basis after hours, ensure the correct non-elective surgical premium (E409A or E410A) is appended to the M033 claim to capture the 50% or 75% increase.
Effective: April 1, 2025
P. Respiratory Surgical Procedures
RESPIRATORY SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Surgical
Integumentary System Surgical Procedures
The master record indicates an assistant fee of $0.00, which implies assistant services (`M033B`) are not eligible for payment, as per the rule on :99 for procedures with 'nil' assistant units.
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