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Billing code

S344A — Ventral or incisional hernia, defect 5 cm or more, with mesh

Large ventral hernia with mesh

Bill S344 for ventral or incisional hernia repair with mesh when the fascial defect is 5 cm or more.

Watch for: Both conditions are needed, 5 cm or more and mesh closure; otherwise bill S340.

Code

S344A

Description

Ventral or incisional hernia, defect 5 cm or more, with mesh

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 with mesh for a fascial defect of 5 cm or more. Add-ons for component separation and a laparoscopic approach.

What it covers

S344 is repair of a ventral or incisional hernia with a fascial defect of 5 cm or more in diameter, repaired with mesh closure. Smaller defects, or a defect of any size closed primarily, are S340 (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

• Both conditions must be met: a defect of 5 cm or more and mesh closure; otherwise bill S340 (S37).
• Add E829 for repair with component separation of a 5–10 cm defect, or E827 for a defect over 10 cm (S37).
• Add E793 (+25%) when the repair is laparoscopic or laparoscopic assisted (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).
• 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; S344 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).
• E829 or E827 when component separation is done (S37).
• E793 for a laparoscopic or laparoscopic-assisted repair (S38).

Related codes: S340, E829, E827, E793, E725, S342

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Digestive System Surgical Procedures, Abdomen, Peritoneum and Omentum — Herniotomy, Ventral or Incisional hernia, page S37 (E793 page S38); Surgical Preamble SP1–SP7

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