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N119
N119 – Intracranial implantation of chronic surface electrodes
OHIP Otolaryngology Code — NEUROLOGICAL SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
Intracranial implantation of chronic surface electrodes. This is a surgical procedure and includes all common and specific elements of a surgical service as defined in the OHIP Schedule of Benefits. See and for surgical assistant and anaesthesiologist service elements.
When to Use
- Use N119 for the surgical implantation of chronic subdural or epidural surface electrodes for epilepsy monitoring or functional mapping.
- Select N119 when the procedure is performed as a standalone surgical event, distinct from the subsequent removal or the implantation of depth electrodes (which may fall under different neurological surgical codes).
Common Pitfalls
- Billing N119 in conjunction with other intracranial procedures without ensuring the surgical rules for multiple procedures (e.g., 100% for the primary, 50% for the secondary) are applied correctly.
- Failing to document the specific anatomical placement and the number of electrodes, which can lead to audit scrutiny regarding the complexity of the surgical service provided.
- Incorrectly applying after-hours premiums (E409/E410) to elective cases that were not delayed by an intervening surgical emergency.
Billing Tips
- Ensure the operative report explicitly details the surgical approach and the specific type of surface electrodes implanted to support the N119 fee code during a potential review.
- If the patient is pediatric, verify the age-based premium (e.g., AGE_PREMIUM_5Y_TO_16Y) is appended to the claim to capture the appropriate percentage increase on the base fee.
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