Z187 – Complex laceration repair, face
OHIP Psychiatric Code — INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
A complex laceration repair of the face is a repair that requires a minimum of 20 minutes of time to perform the repair procedure and at least one of the following: a. anatomical alignment of the vermilion border, eyebrow, eyelid or pinna; b. closure of three or more layers (muscle sheath, subcutaneous tissue, skin etc.); or c. ligation of multiple bleeding vessels.
When to Use
- Use Z187 when a facial laceration requires precise anatomical alignment of the vermilion border, eyebrow, eyelid, or pinna, provided the procedure duration is at least 20 minutes.
- Use Z187 for deep facial lacerations necessitating a multi-layered closure of three or more layers (e.g., muscle, subcutaneous, and skin) that requires at least 20 minutes to complete.
- Use Z187 when the repair involves the ligation of multiple bleeding vessels in the face, meeting the 20-minute minimum procedural time threshold.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing Z187 without explicitly documenting the total procedure time; failure to record at least 20 minutes will result in a downgrade to a standard laceration repair code.
- Claiming Z187 for simple closures that do not meet the specific complexity criteria (anatomical alignment, 3+ layers, or multiple vessel ligation), which triggers audit recovery.
- Attempting to bill Z187 alongside restricted codes such as Z188 or R024, which will cause automatic claim rejection.
Billing Tips
- Ensure your operative note explicitly lists the complexity criterion met (e.g., '3-layer closure performed') and the start/end time to satisfy the 20-minute requirement.
- If performing the procedure in your office, remember to append E542 to the claim to capture the non-hospital overhead premium.
Effective: April 1, 2026
M. Integumentary System Surgical Procedures
INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Surgical
Integumentary System Surgical Procedures
The medical record must document the time required to perform the repair (minimum 20 minutes) and which of the complexity criteria were met (e.g., anatomical alignment, closure of 3+ layers, or ligation of multiple bleeding vessels).
Note: A complex laceration repair of the face is a repair that requires a minimum of 20 minutes of time to perform the repair procedure.
Anaesthesia: As no basic units are listed for Z187, the amount payable is calculated by adding the appropriate time units to the basic units listed for a comparable procedure (see ).
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