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N539
N539 – Anterior scoliosis correction
OHIP Otolaryngology Code — SPINAL SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
N539 is a surgical procedure for the anterior correction of scoliosis, covering any number of vertebral levels. The surgeon fee (suffix A) includes the approach, disc excision, and instrumentation. The fees for the surgical assistant (suffix B) and anaesthesiologist (suffix C) are calculated separately based on basic and time units. The assistant service has 12 basic units, and the anaesthesia service has 20 basic units.
When to Use
- Use N539A for primary anterior spinal instrumentation and fusion for scoliosis regardless of the number of vertebral levels treated.
- Use N539A when the surgical approach, disc excision, and instrumentation are performed as a single anterior procedure, as these elements are inclusive.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing E387 for L5-S1 fusion is a common audit error, as the Schedule of Benefits explicitly excludes this from the definition of spinopelvic fixation.
- Attempting to bill additional levels or instrumentation separately is incorrect because N539A is a comprehensive fee covering any number of levels.
- Failing to identify N539 as the major procedure when multiple surgeries are performed under the same anaesthetic, which leads to incorrect basic unit calculations for the assistant and anaesthetist.
Billing Tips
- Always append E387 to your claim if spinopelvic fixation with iliac or S2 alar-iliac screws is performed concurrently to capture the additional $300.00 flat fee.
Provider Fee$3,060.00
Surgical Assistant Fee$150.12
Anaesthetist Fee$309.80
Non-Anaesthetist Fee$309.80
Effective: April 1, 2025
Category
Z. Spinal Surgical Procedures
Subcategory
SPINAL SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Service Type
Surgical
Code Classes
Spinal Surgical Procedures
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