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Billing code

Z527A — Gastroscopy - May Include Biopsies, Photography And Removal Of Polyps Less Than Or Equal To 1 Cm

Stomach endoscopy

Bill for gastroscopy; biopsies, photography and removal of polyps up to 1 cm are included in the fee.

Watch for: A repeat within three months of a previous gastroscopy is Z528, not Z527.

Code

Z527A

Description

Gastroscopy - May Include Biopsies, Photography And Removal Of Polyps Less Than Or Equal To 1 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

Gastroscopy, which may include biopsies, photography and removal of polyps up to 1 cm. A repeat within 3 months is Z528.

What it covers

Z527 is gastroscopy. It may include biopsies, photography and removal of polyps less than or equal to 1 cm; when done, these are included in the fee and not billed separately (S11, GP4).

Gastroscopy with removal of a foreign body is Z547, and a subsequent gastroscopy within three months of the previous one is Z528 (S11).

Billing rules

• A gastroscopy within three months following a previous gastroscopy is billed as Z528, not Z527 (S11).
• Snare polypectomy of polyps over 1 cm is added: E674 for the first (maximum 1) and E675 for each additional (maximum 2), payable with Z527, Z547 or Z528 (S11).
• E836 (endoscopic mucosal resection of a very large upper GI polyp or lesion) and E813 (radiofrequency ablation of dysplastic Barrett's oesophagus) may be added to Z527 (S7).
• Z292 laryngoscopy with this endoscopy isn't payable unless done for suspicion of laryngeal disease, and such claims go to manual review with a written explanation; Z293, Z322 and Z323 don't need manual review (S11).
• Upper GI endoscopy done with endoscopic ultrasound S236 or S237 pays zero, unless needed because the echo-endoscope gave limited visualization (S6).
• FHO: Z527A is on the Schedule 4 office-procedures list when done in the physician's office for enrolled patients (Agreement p.67 §8.7, p.96).
• 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

• Z515 oesophagoscopy and Z560 duodenoscopy at the same sitting: multiple IOPs done at the same time by the same physician are each claimed in full, with pre- and post-operative care counted once (SP4). The Schedule also has a single listing for oesophagoscopy-gastroscopy, with or without duodenoscopy, Z399 (S7).
• E674 and E675 for snare polypectomy of polyps over 1 cm (S11).
• 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: Z528, Z547, Z399, Z515, Z560, E674, E675

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Digestive System Surgical Procedures, Stomach, Gastroscopy, page S11; add-ons S7; EUS note S6.

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