N120

N120 – Burr hole plus drainage

OHIP Otolaryngology Code — NEUROLOGICAL SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits

Burr hole plus drainage for the treatment of spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage. This is a neurosurgical procedure performed on the cranium as part of the management of a spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage. This procedure falls under the 'CRANIAL' and 'SPONTANEOUS INTRACEREBRAL HAEMORRHAGE' categories of Neurological Surgical Procedures.

When to Use

Use N120 for the surgical drainage of a spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage via a burr hole when a full craniotomy is not indicated or performed.
Use this code for bedside or OR-based burr hole placement specifically for evacuation of spontaneous hematoma, distinct from ventricular drainage procedures like N122.

Common Pitfalls

Billing N120 in conjunction with a craniotomy code for the same site; the burr hole is considered an integral part of the craniotomy and is not separately billable.
Failing to document the spontaneous nature of the hemorrhage, which is a requirement for this specific code versus traumatic intracranial hemorrhage procedures.
Attempting to bill N120 for external ventricular drain (EVD) placement, which should be billed under N122.

Billing Tips

Ensure the operative report explicitly details the spontaneous nature of the hemorrhage to support the N120 designation during potential post-payment audits.
If the procedure is performed after hours, ensure the start time is clearly documented in the operative record to support the application of E409 or E410 premiums.

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Provider Fee$481.90

Surgical Assistant Fee$187.65

Anaesthetist Fee$232.35

Non-Anaesthetist Fee$232.35

Effective: April 1, 2025

Show CPI inflation

Since Apr 2004, this fee has increased 0.0% vs 57.0% CPI inflation

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