< Billing codes

Billing code

Z315A — Epistaxis - unilateral anterior packing

Anterior nasal packing

Bill for anterior nasal packing to treat a nosebleed, one side; an assessment can be billed too.

Watch for: Packing both sides, or packing plus cautery, are each claimed in full; add E839 with a flexible endoscope.

Code

Z315A

Description

Epistaxis - unilateral anterior packing

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

Anterior nasal packing for epistaxis, one side. Each side is its own unilateral service; posterior packing is Z316.

What it covers

Z315 is anterior packing for treatment of epistaxis (nasal haemorrhage), unilateral (P4). Cauterization is Z314 (unilateral), posterior packing Z316 (unilateral or bilateral), and endoscopic sphenopalatine artery ligation for posterior epistaxis Z313 (P4).

As a Z code it is an independent operative procedure (IOP), payable in addition to an assessment (GP4). An anaesthetist bills suffix C for 6 basic units when anaesthesia is given (P4, SP5).

Billing rules

• The listing is unilateral; packing both sides, or packing and cautery at the same time, are each claimed in full, with pre- and post-operative care counted once (SP4).
• E839 is payable in addition when a flexible endoscope is used (P4).
• If the decision to treat is made at that day's visit, that visit is the major pre-operative visit and is billable; if you did the major pre-operative visit in the past 12 months, only a minor assessment (GP/FP) or partial assessment (specialist) is payable before the IOP that day (GP4, SP4).
• FHO: a Schedule 2B core service (50% shadow billing for enrolled patients) and a Schedule 4 office procedure (Agreement p.59 §4.4, p.88, p.67 §8.7, p.96).

Often billed with

• Z314 cauterization at the same visit; each IOP is claimed in full (SP4).
• A007 at the visit where the bleeding is assessed and treated (GP4, SP4).

Related codes: Z314, Z316, Z317, Z313, E839, A007

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Respiratory Surgical Procedures, Nose, Treatment of Epistaxis, page P4 (Surgical Preamble SP4-SP5); FHO Physician Payment Agreement 2026-04 pp.59, 67, 82, 88, 96

APEX checks every paid claim against the Schedule of Benefits and flags codes billed below what the visit qualified for. See how APEX works · Pricing