Billing code
S340A — Ventral or incisional hernia, under 5 cm or primary closure
Small ventral hernia repair
Bill S340 for ventral or incisional hernia repair when the defect is under 5 cm, or any size closed without mesh.
Watch for: A defect of 5 cm or more repaired with mesh is S344; component separation and laparoscopic add-ons go only with S344.
| Provider | Specialist | Assistant | Anaesthetist | Non-anaesthetist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $370.95 | $0.00 | $77.46 | $111.72 | $111.72 |
- Code
- S340A
- Description
- Ventral or incisional hernia, under 5 cm or primary closure
- 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
Ventral or incisional hernia repair: fascial defect under 5 cm, or any size closed primarily. A defect of 5 cm or more repaired with mesh is S344.
What it covers
S340 is repair of a ventral or incisional hernia when the fascial defect is less than 5 cm in diameter, or when a defect of any size is repaired with primary closure. A defect of 5 cm or more repaired with mesh closure is S344 (S37).
The surgical fee covers preparing the patient, the operation, recovery-room care and follow-up until the first post-operative visit; it doesn't include the major pre-operative visit where the decision to operate was made (SP1–SP2, GP4). The listing carries 6 assistant and 7 anaesthesia basic units (S37).
Billing rules
- Choose by size and closure: under 5 cm (any closure), or any size with primary closure, is S340; 5 cm or more with mesh closure is S344 (S37).
- The component separation add-ons E829 and E827 and the laparoscopic premium E793 are listed to S344, not to S340 (S37–S38).
- Add E725 when the hernia is recurrent (S37).
- When another procedure is done under the same anaesthetic, the major procedure is paid in full and the other(s) at 85%, unless the Schedule says otherwise (SP2).
- The surgeon can't bill the hospital or day care admission assessment unless it is the major pre-operative visit; the major pre-operative visit itself is billed separately, whenever it happened (SP2).
- E676 can be added (E676A +25% surgeon, E676B +6 assistant units) once per patient per physician when the BMI over 40 is recorded in the chart and the surgery is under general anaesthesia; S340 is on the E676 list (SP6–SP7).
Often billed with
- A034 General Surgery partial assessment, or A035 consultation, at the major pre-operative visit, which the surgical fee doesn't include (SP2, A107).
- E725 when the hernia is recurrent (S37).
- S323 when an inguinal hernia is repaired under the same anaesthetic; the lesser procedure is paid at 85% (SP2).
- G224 when you give a post-operative pain block lasting more than 4 hours yourself (GP100–GP101, J72).
Common rejections
- EH2: The health card version code on the claim doesn't match OHIP's record, often because the patient has a newer card; get the current version code and resubmit.
- VH8: The date of birth on the claim doesn't match OHIP's record for that health number; correct it and resubmit.
Related codes: S344, E725, S332, S342, S323, E829, E793
Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Digestive System Surgical Procedures, Abdomen, Peritoneum and Omentum — Herniotomy, Ventral or Incisional hernia, page S37; Surgical Preamble SP1–SP7
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