Z360 – Emergency rigid bronchoscopy for obstructed airway
OHIP Psychiatric Code — RESPIRATORY SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
Emergency rigid bronchoscopy for a patient with an obstructed airway. Fee listed in the Schedule is $474.65. This is an Independent Operative Procedure (IOP) and is subject to the general surgical rules outlined in the :529 through :536 of the Schedule. Note: 1. Z360 is eligible for payment only for life-threatening emergency situations where the patient is not intubated. 2. No other bronchoscopy service is eligible for payment with Z360. 3. Life Threatening Critical Care and Other Critical Care services are not payable in addition to Z360 to the same physician for the same patient, same day.
When to Use
- Use Z360 for an emergent rigid bronchoscopy performed to secure an airway in a non-intubated patient experiencing life-threatening obstruction.
- Use this code when the clinical priority is the immediate removal of a foreign body or clearance of an obstruction that precludes standard intubation.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing Z360 for a patient who is already intubated will result in a rejection, as the code specifically requires the patient to be non-intubated.
- Attempting to claim critical care codes (e.g., G521, G522) on the same day as Z360 by the same physician will trigger a payment denial.
- Submitting a claim for a flexible bronchoscopy alongside Z360 is prohibited; only one bronchoscopy service is payable per encounter.
Billing Tips
- Ensure that if you perform a concurrent laryngoscopy or oesophagoscopy, you only bill for the Z360, as the Schedule restricts payment to the bronchoscopy service alone.
- Maximize your claim by applying the appropriate age-based premium or after-hours premium (E409/E410) if the procedure meets the specific timing and patient age criteria.
Effective: April 1, 2025
P. Respiratory Surgical Procedures
RESPIRATORY SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Surgical
Respiratory Surgical Procedures
1. Z360 is eligible for payment only for life-threatening emergency situations where the patient is not intubated.
2. No other bronchoscopy service is eligible for payment with Z360.
3. Life Threatening Critical Care and Other Critical Care services are not payable in addition to Z360 to the same physician for the same patient, same day.
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