As of December 1st, 2020, the Alberta Ministry of Health implemented temporary complexity premiums for specific anesthesiology services in connection to COVID-19. The premium added 30% to the anaesthesia extra units listed on page 111 of the Schedule of Benefits.
Unfortunately, there was a problem when applying the extra add-on and E405 didn’t get applied to all claims. If you submitted E405 between April 3, 2020 and July 31st, 2020 your claims will be reevaluated and if you originally missed out on the premium then your payment will be adjusted to make sure you receive the 30% extra.
No action is required on your behalf in order to receive this adjustment. You will find the adjustment on your March 2021 Remittance Advice with explanatory code ’55. This deduction is an adjustment on an earlier account’ and ’57-This payment is an adjustment on an earlier account’. The codes eligible anesthesiology extra unit fee codes are:
| Fee Code | Description |
| E010C | Patient with body mass index (BMI) > 40 |
| E011C | Patient in prone position during surgery |
| E012C | Patient who is known to have malignant hyperthermia or there is a strong suspicion of susceptibility, and the anaesthetic requires full malignant hyperthermia set up and management |
| E016C | American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) V-moribund patient not expected to live 24 hours with or without operation |
| E017C | ASA IV-patient with incapacitating systemic disease that is a constant threat to life |
| E020C | ASA E-patient undergoing anesthesia for emergency surgery which starts within 24 hours of operating room booking, to E022C, E017C or E016C |
| E021C | Premature newborn less than 37 weeks gestational age |
| E022C | ASA III-patient with severe systemic disease limiting activity but not incapacitating |
| E024C | Patient in sitting position during surgery, greater than 60 degrees upright |
| E025C | Unanticipated massive transfusion-transfusion of at least one blood volume of red blood cells |
If you have any questions about this adjustment, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.
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