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Billing code

Z847A — Removal of one embedded corneal foreign body

Corneal foreign body removal

Bill for removing one embedded foreign body from the cornea under local anaesthetic; an assessment can be billed in addition.

Watch for: Bill by count: Z848 for two, Z845 for three or more; under general anaesthetic bill Z852.

Code

Z847A

Description

Removal of one embedded corneal foreign body

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, 2025

Termination date

No end date

Explanation

Updated October 26, 2026

Removal of one embedded corneal foreign body under local anaesthetic. Two is Z848, three or more Z845 (IC), general anaesthetic Z852.

What it covers

Z847 is removal of one embedded foreign body from the cornea under local anaesthetic (Y2). Two foreign bodies are Z848, three or more are Z845 (independent consideration), and removal under general anaesthetic is Z852 (Y2).

As a Z code it is an independent operative procedure (IOP), payable in addition to an assessment (GP4). It isn't a # code, so the fee includes the premises, equipment and staff (SP1). For FHO physicians it is a core (in-basket) service (Agreement p.82).

Billing rules

• Bill one code by count: Z847 for one, Z848 for two, Z845 for three or more; Z845 needs a supporting letter and operative report for independent consideration (Y2, GP12).
• When no anaesthetic is needed, the procedure is still claimed under the local anaesthetic listing (SP5).
• If the decision to remove 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).
• An unrelated, significant problem in another body system assessed at the same visit can also be billed (SP4).
• Age premiums apply for patients under 16, from 30% under 30 days to 10% at 5-15 years (GP64).
• FHO: a Schedule 2B core service, so shadow billing for enrolled patients is 50% (Agreement p.59 §4.4, p.88), and a Schedule 4 office procedure (Agreement p.67 §8.7, p.97).

Often billed with

• A007 or A001 at the visit where the foreign body is found and the decision to remove it is made (GP4, SP4).

Related codes: Z848, Z852, A007, A001

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Ocular Surgical Procedures, Cornea, page Y2 (Surgical Preamble SP4-SP5); FHO Physician Payment Agreement 2026-04 pp.59, 67, 82, 88, 97

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