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N500
N500 – Disc excision (one level)
OHIP Otolaryngology Code — SPINAL SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
Anterior cervical disc excision (one level) is a surgical procedure to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots in the neck. This involves an anterior approach to remove a single damaged or herniated disc.
When to Use
- Use N500 for a primary anterior cervical discectomy performed at a single level to address radiculopathy or myelopathy.
- Use N500 as the base code when performing a multi-level decompression, where subsequent levels are billed using the add-on code E360.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing N500 in conjunction with N569 will trigger a rejection, as anterior cervical decompression by intra-oral approach is mutually exclusive.
- Failing to document the use of autologous, allogenic, or synthetic tissue will lead to the denial of the E382 duroplasty add-on code.
- Attempting to bill N500 for a vertebrectomy; N501 must be used for vertebrectomy procedures instead.
Billing Tips
- Always append E360 for each additional level of decompression performed beyond the initial level covered by N500.
- Ensure the Injury Severity Score (ISS) is explicitly documented in the chart if claiming the E420 trauma premium for acute spinal cord injury cases.
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