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Billing code

Z122A — Group 3 - Cyst, Haemangioma, Lipoma - Face Or Neck Local Anaesthetic - Single Lesion

Face or neck cyst removal

Bill for excising one cyst, haemangioma or lipoma on the face or neck under local anaesthetic.

Watch for: One lesion only: two are Z123 and three or more Z124; cosmetic removal isn't insured.

Code

Z122A

Description

Group 3 - Cyst, Haemangioma, Lipoma - Face Or Neck Local Anaesthetic - Single Lesion

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, 2026

Termination date

No end date

Explanation

Updated October 26, 2026

Excision of one cyst, haemangioma or lipoma on the face or neck under local anaesthetic. Two lesions are Z123, three or more Z124.

What it covers

Z122 is excision, with or without biopsy, of a single Group 3 lesion (cyst, haemangioma or lipoma) on the face or neck, under local anaesthetic (M3, M4).

As a Z code it is an independent operative procedure (IOP), payable in addition to an assessment (GP4).

Billing rules

• One lesion only: two lesions are Z123 and three or more Z124. Under general anaesthetic the same excisions are Z145 to Z147, and extensive or massive lesions are Z148 (IC) (M4).
• When no anaesthetic is required, the excision is still claimed under this local anaesthetic listing (SP5). No surgical assistant fee is payable (M4).
• E542 is added when the excision is done outside hospital (M4).
• Removal of lesions for cosmetic purposes, without clinical suspicion of disease or malignancy, is not an insured service (M3); such removals are billed to the patient (AD3).
• For benign lesions such as haemangiomas on the face or neck, excision is insured where there is any suspicion of disease or malignancy, and prior authorization is not required (AD3).
• If you did the major pre-operative visit in the previous 12 months, only a minor assessment (GP/FP) or a partial assessment (specialist) is payable before the excision that day; if the decision is made at that day's visit, that visit is the major pre-operative visit and no other assessment before the excision is payable (GP4, SP4).
• FHO: a Schedule 2 core service and one of the Schedule 2B codes with 50% total shadow billing for enrolled patients; it also counts toward the Schedule 4 office procedures payment when done in the office (Agreement p.59 §4.4, p.80, p.87, p.67 §8.7, p.94).

Often billed with

• E542 when the excision is done in the office or elsewhere outside hospital (M4).
• A partial assessment, such as A034 (General Surgery), before the excision when you did the major pre-operative visit in the previous 12 months (SP4).
• A consultation such as A035 when the decision to operate is made at that visit; it is then the major pre-operative visit (GP4, SP4).

Related codes: Z123, Z124, Z145, Z125, E542

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Integumentary System Surgical Procedures, Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue, Excision (with or without biopsy), Group 3, pages M3 and M4; Appendix D AD3; Surgical Preamble SP4 and SP5

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