R124 – Preparation of microvascular recipient site for free island bone flap immediately following ablative surgery
OHIP Radiology Code — INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
Preparation of microvascular recipient site for free island bone flap immediately following ablative surgery and when recipient vessels are in the site of the ablation.
When to Use
- Use R124 when performing the dissection and preparation of recipient vessels specifically for a free island bone flap immediately following the primary ablative resection.
- Use this code when the recipient vessels are located within the immediate surgical field of the ablation, requiring distinct preparation steps separate from the primary resection.
Common Pitfalls
- Do not bill R124 if the recipient vessel preparation is considered an inherent part of the primary ablative procedure code; ensure the work is distinct and documented as such.
- Avoid billing R124 in conjunction with R128 or R129 if the vessel preparation was already included in the scope of those specific flap procedures.
- Failure to document the specific anatomical location and the technical complexity of the recipient site preparation can lead to audit rejections for unbundling.
Billing Tips
- Ensure the operative report explicitly details the separate dissection of the recipient vessels to justify the use of R124 as a distinct procedural component from the ablation.
- When multiple procedures are performed, verify that R124 is not being billed for work already captured under the primary surgical code to avoid 'duplicate service' claim rejections.
Effective: April 1, 2025
M. Integumentary System Surgical Procedures
INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Surgical
Integumentary System Surgical Procedures
All insured services must be documented in appropriate records. The Act requires that the record establish that: 1. an insured service was provided; 2. the service for which the account is submitted is the service that was rendered; and 3. the service was medically necessary.
Ready to bill this code?
SnapBill makes OHIP billing simple — auto-filled codes, validation, and batch submission.