R882 – Thoracic surgical exposure
OHIP Radiology Code — CARDIOVASCULAR SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
This code represents the anaesthesia service for a thoracic surgical exposure within cardiovascular surgical procedures, as indicated by the 'R' prefix. The fee listed in the Schedule of Benefits is a flat rate payable to the anaesthesiologist, with no fee for the primary surgeon or assistant under this code. This suggests a specific billing arrangement where the surgical component may be compensated separately. The service includes the general requirements for anaesthesia as outlined in the General Preamble ( to ), encompassing a pre-anaesthetic evaluation, the anaesthetic procedure itself, and post-anaesthetic follow-up.
When to Use
- Use R882 specifically for the anaesthesia component of a thoracic surgical exposure procedure performed in conjunction with cardiovascular surgery.
- Select this code when the primary surgical procedure has its own distinct billing code and R882 is required to capture the specific anaesthetic management of the thoracic exposure.
Common Pitfalls
- Attempting to bill a primary surgical fee alongside R882 will result in rejection, as the Schedule of Benefits assigns a $0 professional fee for the surgeon under this specific code.
- Failing to document the specific anaesthetic requirements for the thoracic exposure can lead to audit scrutiny if the claim is flagged for review against the primary cardiovascular procedure.
Billing Tips
- Ensure all applicable after-hours or special visit premiums (such as E400C or C998C) are appended correctly to the claim, as R882 is eligible for these enhancements when criteria are met.
- Verify that the primary cardiovascular procedure is billed on a separate claim line or as the primary service to ensure the anaesthetic component for the thoracic exposure is processed correctly.
Effective: April 1, 2025
Q. Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures
CARDIOVASCULAR SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Surgical
Anaesthesiologists' Services, Respiratory Surgical Procedures
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