Table 5 SBS code structure

The ACHI codes for medical interventions for use in ambulatory settings were modified to allow inclusion of additional codes and further splits for unilateral/ bilateral interventions.

SBS retains the core 7-digit ACHI code and includes extensions for additional codes and/ or unilateral/ bilateral interventions where applicable.

The SBS codes relate to ACHI10^th Edition codes as follows (see Fig. 1).

Where an ACHI 10th Edition code was not modified (except for creating separate unilateral/ bilateral codes where relevant), the SBS 8th digit added was a zero (‘0’). Modified ACHI codes have 1, 2, 3 etc. (up to 9) as the 8th digit in SBS. The 9th digit is the unilateral/ bilateral split. Where there is no unilateral/bilateral split, the 9th digit is a zero ‘0’). Where the code refers to a unilateral intervention, a ‘1’ us used, and where it refers to a bilateral intervention, a ‘2’ is used.

Examples of SBS codes without a unilateral/ bilateral extension are as follows:

 • 30,195–01–10 Curettage of lesion of skin, 1 to 14 lesions

 • 30,195–01–20 Curettage of lesion of skin, 15 or more lesions

Therefore, the 9th digit is a zero (‘0’). The above are also new codes created for SBS, so the 8th digit is a ‘1’ and ‘2’ respectively to indicate that they are modified from the ACHI codes.

Examples of SBS codes with a unilateral/ bilateral extension are as follows:

 • 30,075–30-01 Biopsy of inner ear, unilateral

 • 30,075–30-02 Biopsy of inner ear, bilateral

Therefore, the 9^th digit is a ‘1’ and ‘2’ to indicate unilateral/ bilateral. The 8th digit in the above example is ‘0’ as the ACHI code was not modified except for the unilateral/ bilateral split.