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N547
N547 – Open vertebral biopsy - anterior approach - sole procedure
OHIP Otolaryngology Code — SPINAL SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
Open vertebral biopsy of a vertebra via an anterior approach, designated as a sole procedure. The base units for a surgical assistant are 6, and for anaesthesia are 8. Note: Per the Schedule, N547 is not eligible for payment when rendered with any other service in the Spinal Surgical Procedures section.
When to Use
- Use N547 for an open anterior vertebral biopsy when it is the sole surgical procedure performed during the session.
- Choose N547 when the anterior approach is required for diagnostic tissue sampling of a vertebral body, provided no other spinal procedures are billed.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing N547 in combination with any other code from the Spinal Surgical Procedures section will result in automatic rejection.
- Attempting to bill N547 alongside decompression or stabilization procedures (e.g., N546, N551, N552) is a common audit trigger and billing error.
Billing Tips
- Ensure the claim is submitted as a sole procedure; if multiple spinal levels or additional procedures are performed, the entire claim structure must be reviewed to avoid violating the 'sole procedure' restriction.
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