Billing code
Z189A — Complex Repair, Digit, Zone 1 Repair, Without Soft Tissue Loss, Per Digit
Complex fingertip repair
Bill per digit for a zone 1 fingertip injury repair without soft tissue loss that takes at least 20 minutes.
Watch for: Chart the repair time; no other repair codes for the same zone 1 injury.
| Provider | Specialist | Assistant | Anaesthetist | Non-anaesthetist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $101.15 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
- Code
- Z189A
- Description
- Complex Repair, Digit, Zone 1 Repair, Without Soft Tissue Loss, Per Digit
- 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
Complex repair of a zone 1 fingertip injury without soft tissue loss, taking at least 20 minutes. Billed per digit.
What it covers
A complex repair of zone 1 of the digit is repair of an injury without soft tissue loss that needs at least 20 minutes to perform the repair (M16).
It includes removal of any foreign bodies in the wound, irrigation and debridement (M16). Tip amputations or zone 1 injuries with soft tissue loss needing advancement, graft or other closure are billed with the specific surgical repair listings (M16).
Billing rules
- Per digit (M16).
- No other repair codes for the same zone 1 injury (M16).
- Chart the repair time; only time spent on the repair counts (M16).
- Wound and ulcer debridement, Z128, Z129 and Z114 are not payable in addition for the same repair (M16).
- Plastic surgery codes R150 to R154 are not payable for any laceration repair (M16).
- Surgical procedure: age premiums apply for patients under 16, from +10% (age 5–15) up to +30% (under 30 days) (GP64).
- Non-elective and done after hours: ED physicians billing H-codes add E412 (+20%, evenings/weekends/holidays) or E413 (+40%, 00:00–07:00); other physicians add E409 or E410 (GP104).
- E420 trauma premium (+50%) applies for qualifying trauma patients when the ISS is charted (GP109).
Often billed with
- E412 or E413 when an ED physician does it non-electively after hours (GP104).
Related codes: Z187, Z188, Z176, Z154, Z114, Z128
Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Integumentary System Surgical Procedures, Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue, page M16.
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