Billing code
G224A — Nerve Block By Same Physician Performing The Procedure
Post-op pain block, own procedure
Bill G224 for a post-operative pain block lasting over 4 hours that you give with a procedure you perform.
Watch for: Don't bill the block under its own code (G060, G061, G260) when you also do the procedure.
| Provider | Specialist | Assistant | Anaesthetist | Non-anaesthetist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15.55 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
- Code
- G224A
- Description
- Nerve Block By Same Physician Performing The Procedure
- 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
Post-operative pain block by the physician who does the procedure, for blocks lasting over 4 hours. Paid once per region per side.
What it covers
A nerve block, anaesthetic or other medication you give with a procedure you perform on the same patient is normally not payable. G224 is the exception: a major or minor peripheral nerve block, major plexus block, neuraxial injection or intrapleural block (with or without catheter) for post-operative pain control, with a duration of action of more than 4 hours, given with your own procedure (GP100–GP101, J70, SP5).
It is listed under Nerve Blocks for Acute Pain Management. Acute pain means pain of sudden onset expected to resolve within 6 weeks (J70, J72).
Billing rules
- The block must last more than 4 hours; shorter-acting blocks, topical anaesthesia and local infiltration aren't payable (J70).
- When you do the procedure too, bill the block as G224, not under its own block code such as G060, G061 or G260 (J70, J79).
- Payable once per region per side for bilateral procedures; a bilateral pudendal block is one service (GP101, J70).
- Overall maximum of 8 nerve blocks per patient per day; bilateral blocks count as two (J70).
- No separate fee for guidance such as nerve stimulation, ultrasound or fluoroscopy (J70).
- G224 is on the list of major invasive procedures eligible for the after-hours procedure premiums (E409/E410, or E412/E413 for emergency department physicians on H-code shifts) when it is non-elective or was delayed by an emergency procedure (GP103–GP104).
- FHO: an Income Stabilization physician can bill G224A fee-for-service only with one of P006A, E414A, P009A, P020A, P022A, P023A, P028A or P030A (Agreement p.99 §3.6).
Often billed with
- S323 inguinal or femoral hernia repair in adolescents and adults, when the surgeon gives a long-acting block for post-operative pain (S37, SP5).
- E725 recurrent hernia add-on and S340 ventral or incisional hernia repair, in the same way (S37, SP5).
Common rejections
- VH8: The date of birth on the claim doesn't match OHIP's record for that health number; correct it and resubmit.
Related codes: G060, G061, G260, G279, G247, G231, S323
Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures, Nerve Blocks for Acute Pain Management, page J72 (preamble J70); General Preamble GP100–GP101; Surgical Preamble SP5
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