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Billing code

S237A — Linear Or Radial Echo-endoscope - Including Biliary And/or Pancreatic Examination (scope Also Used For Therapeutic Procedures)

Endoscopic ultrasound, biliary/pancreatic

Bill S237 for endoscopic ultrasound with a linear or radial echo-endoscope that includes biliary or pancreatic examination.

Watch for: Don't add S236, which pays zero with S237; a GI endoscopy at the same session pays zero unless visualization was limited.

Code

S237A

Description

Linear Or Radial Echo-endoscope - Including Biliary And/or Pancreatic Examination (scope Also Used For Therapeutic Procedures)

FHO+ basket

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

Effective date

Apr 1, 2026

Termination date

No end date

Explanation

Updated October 26, 2026

Endoscopic ultrasound with a linear or radial echo-endoscope, including biliary and/or pancreatic examination.

What it covers

S237 is endoscopic ultrasound using a linear or radial echo-endoscope, including biliary and/or pancreatic examination; the scope may also be used for therapeutic procedures (S6).

Without biliary or pancreatic examination it is S236. An ultrasound probe passed through a standard endoscope is billed as add-ons E800 or E801 to the endoscopy fee instead (S6).

Billing rules

• S236 with S237 pays zero (S6).
• No assistant fee is payable; anaesthesia is 6 basic units (S6).
• An upper or lower GI endoscopy at the same session pays zero, unless it is needed because the echo-endoscope gives limited visualization (S6).
• Patients under 16 get an age premium of 10% to 30% (GP64).

Often billed with

• E802 biopsy or fine needle aspiration, maximum 3 per lesion (S6).
• E803 dilation of stricture; E804 injection of metastases, nodes, masses or celiac plexus; E805 pseudocyst drainage including stent (S6).

Related codes: S236, E801, E800, E802, E804, E805

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Digestive System Surgical Procedures, Endoscopic Ultrasound, page S6.

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