R691 – Minor burn
OHIP Radiology Code — INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
Debridement, excision, fasciotomy, and/or grafting for a minor burn performed in an Operating Room. This is a time-based service, where one unit equals a quarter hour or a major part thereof. Time is calculated based on the physician's direct contact with the patient in the operating room, from first attendance to when no longer in attendance. As per , start and stop times must be documented in the patient's permanent medical record for the service to be eligible for payment. Only one burn debridement code (R691, R692, or R693) is payable per encounter.
When to Use
- Use R691 for debridement or excision of minor burns performed in an operating room when the procedure does not meet the complexity or surface area thresholds of R692 or R693.
- Use this code for time-based billing in the operating room when the physician is actively engaged in the debridement or grafting process, ensuring the total time is documented in 15-minute increments.
Common Pitfalls
- Failure to record exact start and stop times in the patient's permanent medical record is the most frequent cause of audit recovery and claim rejection.
- Billing R691 in conjunction with R692 or R693 for the same encounter is prohibited; only one burn debridement code is payable per patient per session.
- Attempting to bill R691 for procedures performed in an emergency department or clinic setting, as this code is strictly restricted to operating room services.
Billing Tips
- Ensure your operative report explicitly states the start and stop times of the procedure to satisfy the GP7 documentation requirements for time-based surgical codes.
- If the procedure is non-elective and occurs during after-hours, ensure you append the appropriate E409 or E410 premium to the R691 base fee to maximize the claim value.
Effective: April 1, 2025
M. Integumentary System Surgical Procedures
INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Surgical
Integumentary System Surgical Procedures
Start and stop times must be recorded in the patient's permanent medical record or the service is not eligible for payment.
Ready to bill this code?
SnapBill makes OHIP billing simple — auto-filled codes, validation, and batch submission.