< Billing codes

Billing code

E698A

Balloon oesophageal dilation

Add for pneumatic or balloon dilation during oesophagoscopy-gastroscopy, with or without duodenoscopy.

Watch for: Must be billed with Z399 or Z400; other oesophageal dilatation is E696.

Code

E698A

FHO+ basket

Not in the FHO+ base rate basket (Schedule 2 or 2B).

Effective date

Apr 1, 2025

Termination date

No end date

Explanation

Updated October 26, 2026

Add-on for pneumatic or balloon dilation done during oesophagoscopy-gastroscopy.

What it covers

E698 is pneumatic or balloon dilation at the time of oesophagoscopy-gastroscopy, with or without duodenoscopy (S7).

Other oesophageal dilatation is E696 (S7).

Billing rules

• Add-on to oesophagoscopy-gastroscopy, with or without duodenoscopy (Z399 elective or Z400 for active bleeding) (S7).
• Marked #: premises, equipment, supplies and staff are funded by the hospital budget or ICHSC facility costs, and patients can't be charged for them (GP13).
• Under-16 age premiums (10–30%) apply to surgical procedures in Parts K to Z (GP64).

Often billed with

• Z399 or Z400 (S7).

Common rejections

• ADF: OHIP describes this as 'Corresponding Procedure Invalid, Omitted or Paid at zero': the base procedure (Z399 or Z400) is missing from the claim, invalid, or paid at zero. Add-ons are payable only with their base code.

Related codes: E696, Z399, Z400, Z513, E803

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Digestive System Surgical Procedures, Oesophagus, page S7.

APEX checks every paid claim against the Schedule of Benefits and flags codes billed below what the visit qualified for. See how APEX works · Pricing