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Billing code

Z179A — Repair Of Lacerations - 10.1 To 15 Cm

Laceration repair, 10.1–15 cm

Bill for a simple repair of a laceration 10.1 to 15 cm long.

Watch for: On the face, or with tied bleeders or layered closure, bill Z190; tissue adhesive closure pays 50%.

Code

Z179A

Description

Repair Of Lacerations - 10.1 To 15 Cm

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

Repair of a laceration 10.1 to 15 cm. On the face, or with tied bleeders or layered closure, it is Z190; tissue adhesive closure pays 50%.

What it covers

Z179 is repair of a laceration 10.1 to 15 cm (M15). A laceration of this length on the face, or needing tying of bleeders or closure in layers, is Z190 instead (M15).

As a Z code it is an independent operative procedure (IOP), payable in addition to an assessment (GP4). Removal of sutures only has no fee code of its own: it is a usual visit code (UVC), paid as the appropriate visit (M15, GP12).

Billing rules

• Bill by length and type: Z175 for 5.1 to 10 cm; Z179 for 10.1 to 15 cm; Z190 for 10.1 to 15 cm on the face and/or with tied bleeders and/or layered closure; Z191 (other than face) or Z192 (face) over 15.1 cm (M15).
• Closure with tissue adhesive (such as cyanoacrylate) is paid at 50% of the fee (M15).
• Not eligible for payment with wound and ulcer debridement (Z080 to Z085); when extensive debridement is needed, add E531 (IC) to the repair instead (M10, M15).
• E542 is added when the repair is done outside hospital; E530 is added when inhalation general anaesthesia (other than a 50% N2O/O2 mixture) is used and the suture is the sole procedure (M15).
• A repair taking at least 20 minutes that meets the complex criteria (for example three or more layers or ligation of multiple bleeding vessels) is Z187 (face) or Z188 (other areas), with the time charted (M15, M16). Plastic surgery codes R150 to R154 are not eligible for payment for any laceration repair (M16).
• A non-elective repair started in the evening, at night, or on a weekend or holiday takes the after-hours procedure premium: E409 (+50%) or E410 (+75%), or E412 (+20%) / E413 (+40%) for an emergency department physician billing H-prefix codes (GP103, GP104).
• Surgical procedures for patients under 16 are paid with an age premium of 10% to 30% depending on age (GP64).
• FHO: not listed in Schedule 2 (core services), so not part of the base rate basket (Agreement pp.75–82). It is listed in Schedule 4, so it counts toward the Special Payment for Office Procedures when done in the physician's office (Agreement p.67 §8.7, p.95).

Often billed with

• E542 when the repair is done in the office or elsewhere outside hospital (M15).
• The assessment for the visit, such as A003 or A007; the repair is paid in addition (GP4).

Related codes: Z175, Z190, Z191, Z192, Z188, E542

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Integumentary System Surgical Procedures, Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue, Repair of lacerations, page M15 (complex repair rules M16, debridement rule M10); General Preamble GP4, GP12, GP64, GP103–GP104

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