What is OHIP billing code N544?

N544 is "Sympathectomy - unilateral - thoracic approach", an OHIP Otolaryngology code from the Ontario Schedule of Benefits (Physician Services).

How much does N544 pay?

The current OHIP fee for N544 is $433.50, effective 2025-04-01, per the Ontario Schedule of Benefits.

How do I bill N544 to OHIP?

N544 is submitted through OHIP's MCEDT claims system, either directly or via billing software. SnapBill validates N544 claims against the Schedule of Benefits rules before submission.

All codes

N544

N544 – Sympathectomy - unilateral - thoracic approach

OHIP Otolaryngology Code — SPINAL SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits

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Unilateral sympathectomy via a thoracic approach. As a surgical procedure, the fee includes the common (-) and specific elements of surgery, including the operation itself and normal post-operative care. The fee is payable to the surgeon (suffix A), assistant (suffix B), or anaesthesiologist (suffix C), with fees for assistants and anaesthesiologists calculated based on a unit system.

When to Use

Use N544 for a unilateral thoracic sympathectomy performed via an open thoracic approach.
Use this code for procedures addressing hyperhidrosis or vascular conditions where a thoracic approach is specifically required over endoscopic methods.

Common Pitfalls

Billing N544 when an endoscopic (thoracoscopic) approach is used; endoscopic procedures often fall under different codes or require specific documentation of the approach.
Attempting to bill a consultation or office visit on the same day as the procedure; these are included in the global surgical fee as per GP13-GP14.
Failing to account for the 90-day post-operative period, during which all routine follow-up care is included in the N544 fee.

Billing Tips

Ensure the surgical assistant and anaesthesiologist claims correctly utilize the assigned basic units (9 for assistant, 13 for anaesthesiologist) plus applicable time units.
If the procedure is performed after hours or on weekends, apply the appropriate E-code premium (E409/E410 for surgeons, E400B/E401B for assistants, or E400C/E401C for anaesthesiologists) based on the procedure commencement time.

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Provider Fee$433.50

Surgical Assistant Fee$112.59

Anaesthetist Fee$201.37

Non-Anaesthetist Fee$201.37

Effective: April 1, 2025

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