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R182
R182 – Excision of nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal lesion - with mandibulotomy, glossotomy and/or palatal split
OHIP Radiology Code — RESPIRATORY SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
This surgical procedure involves the removal of a nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal lesion through a complex approach involving mandibulotomy, glossotomy, and/or a palatal split. As per the Surgical Preamble (), the surgical fee includes the associated pre-operative and post-operative care. This includes pre-operative hospital visits one or two days prior to surgery and post-operative care and visits for up to two weeks, with the exception of the first and second post-operative visits and the day of discharge visit (C124).
When to Use
- Use R182 when the surgical approach to a nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal lesion necessitates a formal mandibulotomy, glossotomy, or palatal split to achieve adequate exposure.
- Select R182 over simpler excision codes like R181 when the complexity of the anatomical access is the primary driver of the surgical time and risk.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing for post-operative hospital visits within the 14-day post-operative period is a common audit trigger, as these are included in the R182 fee.
- Failing to document the specific surgical approach (e.g., mandibulotomy) in the operative report can lead to claims being downgraded to a lower-value excision code during a post-payment audit.
Billing Tips
- Ensure that the surgical assistant services are supported by a letter of justification submitted to the Ministry, as R182 is a complex procedure that typically requires clinical documentation to validate the need for an assistant.
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