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Billing code

G223A — Somatic or peripheral nerve, nerve(s) or site(s), additional

Unlisted nerve block, each extra

Bill G223 for each additional somatic or peripheral nerve or site blocked, when the nerve has no code of its own.

Watch for: Payable only as an add-on to G231; nerves with their own listing are billed under those codes.

Code

G223A

Description

Somatic or peripheral nerve, nerve(s) or site(s), additional

FHO+ basket

Covered by the FHO+ base rate payment for enrolled patients, and shadow billed at 30% (50% for Schedule 2B procedures).

Effective date

Apr 1, 2025

Termination date

No end date

Explanation

Updated October 26, 2026

Add-on to G231 for each additional somatic or peripheral nerve or site blocked when the nerve has no code of its own. Not payable with your own procedure.

What it covers

G223 is the add-on for additional nerve(s) or site(s) under 'somatic or peripheral nerves not specifically listed'; the first nerve or site is G231 (J81).

Nerves with their own listing, such as ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric (G218), intercostal (G220), paravertebral (G228) or occipital (G264), are billed under those codes instead (J80–J81).

Billing rules

• Payable only as an add-on to G231 (J81).
• Not payable when you give the block before, during or after a procedure you perform on the same patient; the only exception is G224, for a post-operative pain block lasting more than 4 hours (J79, J70).
• Overall maximum of 8 nerve blocks per patient per day in any combination; a bilateral block counts as two (J79).
• Topical anaesthesia or local infiltration used as an anaesthetic isn't payable, and no fee is payable for guidance such as nerve stimulation, ultrasound or fluoroscopy (J79).
• Injection codes from elsewhere in the Schedule can't be billed for the same injection (J79).
• E958 adds 50% to the block fee when alcohol or another sclerosing solution is used (J82).
• FHO: G223 is a Schedule 2 in-basket core service (Agreement p.77).

Often billed with

• G231 for the first nerve or site (J81).
• E958 when alcohol or another sclerosing solution is used (J82).

Related codes: G231, G224, G228, G123, G220, G221, G227, E958

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures, Nerve Blocks - Peripheral/Other Injections, page J81 (section rules J79; E958 J82)

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