R883 – Thoraco-abdominal surgical exposure
OHIP Radiology Code — CARDIOVASCULAR SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
Anaesthesia service for a surgical procedure designated as `R883`. The fee is determined by the sum of basic and time units, plus any applicable premiums. The general anaesthesia service includes: - A pre-anaesthetic evaluation, with specific elements as for assessments (see ). - The anaesthetic procedure. - Post-anaesthetic follow-up. In addition to the common elements, the general anaesthesia service includes the following specific elements: A. Supervising the preparation of the patient for anaesthesia. B. Performing the anaesthetic procedure, and procedures associated with the anaesthetic procedure which are not separately payable including providing all supportive measures to the patient during and immediately after the period of anaesthesia; transfer of or assisting with the transfer of the patient to the recovery room; all indicated recovery room procedures, and ongoing monitoring and detention during the immediate post-operative and recovery period. C. Making arrangements for any assessments, procedures, or therapy, including obtaining any specimens (except for arterial puncture Z459), and/or interpreting the results, on matters related to the service. D. Making, or supervising the making of, arrangements for follow-up care and when medically indicated, post-procedure monitoring of the patient's condition until the next insured service is provided. E. Discussion with, and providing any advice and information, including prescribing therapy to the patient or the patient's representative, whether by telephone or otherwise, on matters related to the service. F. Providing premises, equipment, supplies, and personnel for any aspect(s) of specific elements A, C, D, and E that is (are) performed in a place other than the place in which the general anaesthetic service is performed.
When to Use
- Use R883 when providing general anaesthesia for surgical procedures specifically designated as thoraco-abdominal surgical exposure.
- Select this code when the surgical procedure involves combined thoracic and abdominal access, distinguishing it from isolated thoracic (e.g., R881) or abdominal (e.g., R882) anaesthesia codes.
Common Pitfalls
- Failing to document the exact start and end times of the anaesthesia service, which is mandatory for calculating time units correctly.
- Incorrectly billing R883 when the procedure is limited to only one cavity, as this may trigger an audit for over-billing compared to the appropriate single-cavity code.
- Omitting the required documentation of the Supervising Physician and Medical Trainee details, which is a specific requirement under GP84.
Billing Tips
- Ensure the claim is submitted with the 'C' suffix and that all applicable ASA or patient-specific modifiers (e.g., E010C for BMI > 40) are included on the same claim to maximize the unit value.
- If the surgery is cancelled after induction, do not bill R883; instead, use E006C with the actual time units accrued plus 6 basic units.
Effective: April 1, 2025
Q. Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures
CARDIOVASCULAR SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Anaesthesia
Anaesthesiologists' Services
A service is only eligible for payment to the Supervising Physician when the medical record of the patient(s) identifies specific information at the time of the provision of the service, including the Supervising Physician, Medical Trainee details, service performed, patient consent, and review of the service. The Supervising Physician must also sign off on the service. ()
With the exception of the listings in the “Consultations and Visits” section, all references to an anaesthesiologist in this Schedule are references to any physician providing anaesthetic services.
As defined in the General Preamble (see ), general anaesthesia, for the purposes of this Schedule, includes all forms of anaesthesia except topical anaesthesia or local infiltration, unless otherwise specifically listed.
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