What is OHIP billing code R686?

R686 is "Hip arthroscopy", an OHIP Radiology code from the Ontario Schedule of Benefits (Physician Services).

How much does R686 pay?

The current OHIP fee for R686 is $669.80, effective 2025-04-01, per the Ontario Schedule of Benefits.

How do I bill R686 to OHIP?

R686 is submitted through OHIP's MCEDT claims system, either directly or via billing software. SnapBill validates R686 claims against the Schedule of Benefits rules before submission.

What codes are related to R686?

Codes related to R686 in the Schedule of Benefits include E487, E488, E482, E490.

All codes

R686

R686 – Hip arthroscopy

OHIP Radiology Code — MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits

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Hip arthroscopy set up, includes when rendered debridement, synovectomy, removal of loose body(ies) and/or screw, drilling of defect, microfracture, abrasion arthroplasty, and/or synovial biopsy. Osteochondroplasty requiring less than 2 hours is included in R686. This service can be billed with additional codes for more extensive procedures such as labral resection/repair or extensive osteochondroplasty.

When to Use

Use R686 as the primary code for routine hip arthroscopy involving debridement, synovectomy, or removal of loose bodies.
Use R686 when performing osteochondroplasty that requires less than 2 hours of resection time, as this is considered inclusive of the base fee.
Use R686 in conjunction with E488A when a labral repair is performed during the same operative session.

Common Pitfalls

Billing E490A for osteochondroplasty that does not meet the mandatory 2-hour minimum resection time threshold will result in rejection or audit recovery.
Attempting to bill E482A and E490A on the same claim is prohibited; you must choose the single most appropriate add-on based on the procedure performed.
Submitting E487A (resection) and E488A (repair) together is a billing error as they are mutually exclusive.

Billing Tips

Always append the appropriate add-on code (E487A, E488A, E482A, or E490A) to the R686 claim to ensure you are compensated for the specific surgical components performed.
If performing extensive osteochondroplasty, ensure the operative report clearly justifies the 2-hour minimum duration required to support the E490A add-on.

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Provider Fee$669.80

Surgical Assistant Fee$75.06

Anaesthetist Fee$154.90

Non-Anaesthetist Fee$154.90

Effective: April 1, 2025

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