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Z779
Z779 – Chorionic villus sampling
OHIP Psychiatric Code — OBSTETRICS · Schedule of Benefits
Chorionic villus sampling is a prenatal diagnostic procedure involving the collection of a tissue sample from the placenta. This service is listed in the Schedule of Benefits under High Risk Pregnancies.
When to Use
- Use Z779 for the performance of a chorionic villus sampling procedure in a high-risk pregnancy setting where tissue is collected for prenatal genetic diagnosis.
- Use Z779 as the primary procedural code when the sampling is performed via transabdominal or transcervical approach for fetal chromosomal analysis.
Common Pitfalls
- Attempting to bill an assistant fee (suffix B) or anaesthesia fee (suffix C) automatically; these are not listed for Z779 and require prior authorization or manual review via M400B.
- Failing to document the high-risk pregnancy indication, which is a mandatory requirement for the validity of this specific code in the Schedule of Benefits.
- Incorrectly stacking Z779 with other diagnostic ultrasound codes (e.g., P031 or P032) on the same day without ensuring the clinical necessity for both is clearly distinct and documented.
Billing Tips
- If the procedure is performed after hours, ensure you apply the appropriate E409 or E410 premium, as Z779 is explicitly eligible for these non-elective surgical procedure premiums.
- For patients under 16 years of age, always append the relevant age-based fee premium to the Z779 base fee to ensure the correct percentage increase is applied.
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