N568 – Removal of anterior instrumentation
OHIP Otolaryngology Code — SPINAL SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
Removal of anterior instrumentation is a surgical revision procedure performed on the spine. As a surgical procedure, the fee for the surgeon (suffix A) includes all common and specific elements of surgical services, such as the major pre-operative visit, post-operative care, and related administrative tasks as described in the Schedule of Benefits. Assistant (suffix B) and anaesthetist (suffix C) services are calculated based on basic units and time units.
When to Use
- Use N568 for the surgical removal of anterior spinal instrumentation, such as plates, screws, or cages, that were previously placed via an anterior approach.
- Select N568 when the primary objective of the procedure is the removal of hardware, distinguishing it from N541 which relates to different spinal revision or instrumentation services.
Common Pitfalls
- Do not attempt to bill the repeat fusion premium (E375) with N568, as E375 is strictly restricted to the specific major fusion codes listed in the Schedule of Benefits.
- Avoid billing N568 in conjunction with other major spinal procedures unless the removal is performed at a separate spinal level or via a distinct surgical approach that qualifies for multiple procedure rules.
Billing Tips
- Ensure the operative report explicitly details the anterior approach used for the hardware removal to support the use of N568 over other instrumentation management codes.
- If the procedure is performed on an urgent or emergent basis, verify eligibility for after-hours premiums (E409, E410) or the trauma premium (E420) if the ISS criteria are met and documented.
Effective: April 1, 2025
Z. Spinal Surgical Procedures
SPINAL SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Surgical
Spinal Surgical Procedures
The repeat decompression premium (E373) only applies to the major “N” prefix decompressive procedure (N500, N501, N502, N503, N504, N505, N506, N507, N508, N579, N509, N510, N511, N512).
The repeat fusion premium (E375) only applies to the major fusion “E” or “N” prefix codes (E363, E365, E367, N516, N517, N518, N559, N580, E369, E384, E370, N528, N513, N519, N514, N581, N532, N515, N582).
Ready to bill this code?
SnapBill makes OHIP billing simple — auto-filled codes, validation, and batch submission.