R718 – Closure of ventricular septal defect
OHIP Radiology Code — CARDIOVASCULAR SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
Closure of a ventricular septal defect (VSD). This service is eligible for surgeon (A), assistant (B), and anaesthetist (C) suffixes. The anaesthetist fee is calculated based on 28 base units plus time units. The assistant fee is calculated based on 18 base units plus time units. Payment for a second surgical assistant is eligible without special authorization. As per the note on , R718 should be claimed only once regardless of the number of defects repaired by one patch.
When to Use
- Use R718 for the primary surgical closure of a ventricular septal defect, whether performed via direct suture or patch repair.
- Use this code for the repair of multiple VSDs if they are addressed through a single patch or closure technique, as the code is restricted to a single claim per procedure.
Common Pitfalls
- Claiming R718 multiple times for a single operative session when multiple defects are repaired; the Schedule of Benefits explicitly restricts this to a single claim regardless of the number of defects.
- Failing to document the specific complexity of the defect, which may be required during an audit to justify the surgical time units claimed alongside the base units.
Billing Tips
- Ensure that the surgical assistant (suffix B) and anaesthetist (suffix C) claims are submitted with the correct base units (18 and 28 respectively) plus the appropriate time units to avoid automatic rejection or underpayment.
Effective: April 1, 2025
Q. Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures
CARDIOVASCULAR SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Surgical
Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures
R718 should be claimed only once regardless of the number of defects repaired by one patch.
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