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Billing code

Z517A — Excision Of First Polyp (10 Mm To 19 Mm)

First polyp removal, 10–19 mm

Bill for colonoscopic excision of the first polyp measuring 10 to 19 mm, with the colonoscopy base code.

Watch for: Only one first-polyp code per patient per day, chosen by the largest polyp; additional polyps are capped at 2 per day.

Code

Z517A

Description

Excision Of First Polyp (10 Mm To 19 Mm)

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

Colonoscopic excision of a first polyp 10 mm to 19 mm. One first-polyp code per patient per day, chosen by the largest polyp.

What it covers

Z517 is excision of the first polyp, 10 mm to 19 mm, through the colonoscope. It is billed with the colonoscopy base code for the indication (S16, S17, S19).

Additional polyps of 10 mm to 19 mm are E519; the other first-polyp sizes are Z571 (3 to 5 mm), Z518 (6 to 9 mm) and Z516 (20 to 29 mm), and total excision of a very large sessile polyp (over 3 cm) is E685 (S19).

Billing rules

• Use Z517 when the largest polyp excised is 10 mm to 19 mm; only one of Z571, Z518, Z517 or Z516 is payable per patient per day; use the code for the largest polyp excised (S19).
• A maximum of 2 services of any combination of E720, E520, E519 or E518 (additional polyps) is payable per patient per day (S19).
• Excision of polyps under 3 mm isn't payable (S19).
• Billed with the colonoscopy base code; the base colonoscopy codes already include fulguration, if performed (S19).
• No surgical assistant fee is payable (Asst nil) (S19).
• Multiple IOPs at the same sitting by the same physician are each claimed in full, with pre- and post-operative care counted once (SP4).
• Marked '#': the fee doesn't include premises, equipment, supplies or staff, which are funded by the hospital budget or ICHSC facility costs; patients can't be charged for them (GP13).

Often billed with

• The colonoscopy base code, such as Z496, Z498 or Z555, with only one base code per patient per day (S17).
• E740 (splenic flexure), E741 (hepatic flexure), E747 (cecum) and E705 (terminal ileum) for how far the scope was passed (S18).
• E520 or E720 for additional smaller polyps (6 to 9 mm, 3 to 5 mm), or E519 for another 10 to 19 mm polyp, to a combined maximum of 2 (S19).
• A035 consultation (when it is the visit where the decision to scope is made) or A034 partial assessment (when the major pre-operative visit was in the previous 12 months) for a general surgeon (SP4, A107).

Related codes: E519, Z518, Z516, Z571, E685, E520, Z496, Z498

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Digestive System Surgical Procedures, Intestines (Except Rectum), Colonoscopy, polyp excision, page S19; base codes S16-S17.

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