What are the billing rules for Z327A?

With laryngoscopy or oesophagoscopy, only the bronchoscopy is payable (P9). Not payable when done by the same surgeon immediately after thoracic surgery under the same anaesthetic (P9). Not payable the same day as a major lung resection if the same physician did a bronchoscopy for the patient in the 3 weeks before the resection (P9).

What is Z327A often billed with?

E636 broncho-alveolar lavage, E638 transbronchial lung biopsy (P9). E677 TBNA of mediastinal/hilar nodes, E678 TBNA of lung mass (P9–P10). E838 high-risk patient with respiratory failure, if you stay until oxygen returns to baseline (P10).

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Billing code

Z327A — Bronchoscopy - Flexible Or Rigid, With Or Without Bronchial Biopsy, Suction Or Injection Of Contrast Material

Q: What is OHIP billing code Z327A?

Flexible or rigid bronchoscopy, with or without bronchial biopsy, suction or contrast injection. Add-ons cover lavage, lung biopsy and needle aspiration.

Bronchoscopy of the airways

Bill for flexible or rigid bronchoscopy, with or without bronchial biopsy, suction or contrast injection; extra work uses add-on codes.

Watch for: With laryngoscopy or oesophagoscopy only the bronchoscopy is paid, and not right after thoracic surgery under the same anaesthetic.

Provider	Specialist	Assistant	Anaesthetist	Non-anaesthetist
$124.90	$0.00	$0.00	$95.76	$95.76

Code: Z327A
Description: Bronchoscopy - Flexible Or Rigid, With Or Without Bronchial Biopsy, Suction Or Injection Of Contrast Material
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

Flexible or rigid bronchoscopy, with or without bronchial biopsy, suction or contrast injection. Add-ons cover lavage, lung biopsy and needle aspiration.

What it covers

Z327 is flexible or rigid bronchoscopy, with or without bronchial biopsy, suction or injection of contrast material (P9).

Extra work is billed with add-on codes to Z327, such as broncho-alveolar lavage (E636), transbronchial lung biopsy (E638), TBNA of nodes (E677) or lung mass (E678), foreign body removal (E632) and high-risk patients in respiratory failure (E838) (P9–P10).

Billing rules

With laryngoscopy or oesophagoscopy, only the bronchoscopy is payable (P9).
Not payable when done by the same surgeon immediately after thoracic surgery under the same anaesthetic (P9).
Not payable the same day as a major lung resection if the same physician did a bronchoscopy for the patient in the 3 weeks before the resection (P9).
Emergency rigid bronchoscopy for an obstructed airway is Z360; no other bronchoscopy is payable with it (P9).
A repeat bronchoscopy for tracheobronchial toilet within a week of another bronchoscopic procedure is Z359 (P10).
Marked '#': premises, equipment, supplies and staff are not included in the fee (hospital or facility funded) (GP13).
Surgical assistant fee is nil; the anaesthetist bills 6 basic units plus time (P9).
Z-code (IOP): if your major pre-operative visit was in the prior 12 months, only a partial assessment (specialist) or minor assessment (GP) is payable before it that day; if the major pre-op visit is the same day, no other assessment before it is paid (SP4).

Often billed with

E636 broncho-alveolar lavage, E638 transbronchial lung biopsy (P9).
E677 TBNA of mediastinal/hilar nodes, E678 TBNA of lung mass (P9–P10).
E838 high-risk patient with respiratory failure, if you stay until oxygen returns to baseline (P10).
E622 any bronchoscopic procedure for a patient under 3 (P9).

Related codes: Z360, Z359, Z342, E636, E638, E677, G050

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Respiratory Surgical Procedures, Trachea and Bronchi, page P9. Surgical preamble SP4.

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