All codes
R891
R891 – Ascending aorta – second surgeon
OHIP Radiology Code · Schedule of Benefits
Thoracic aorta aneurysm - repair or excision with graft; ascending aorta – second surgeon. This code is used when two surgeons are required to perform the repair or excision of an ascending thoracic aorta aneurysm using a graft.
When to Use
- Use R891 when the complexity of the ascending thoracic aorta aneurysm repair necessitates a second primary surgeon rather than a standard surgical assistant.
- Use R891 in conjunction with R890 when two surgeons perform the graft procedure, replacing the single-surgeon code R799.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing R891 and R890 under the same provider number will trigger an automatic rejection as the system requires two distinct physician identifiers.
- Attempting to bill an assistant fee (suffix B) or anaesthesia units (suffix C) under R891 is incorrect; these must be billed exclusively under the first surgeon's R890 claim.
- Billing R891 alongside R799 is a duplicate claim error, as R891 is intended to replace R799 when the two-surgeon protocol is utilized.
Billing Tips
- Ensure the operative report explicitly justifies the medical necessity of two primary surgeons to avoid audit recovery of the R891 fee.
- If a third physician is required to assist the two primary surgeons, bill that assistant under R890B, not R891.
Provider Fee$1,104.85
Effective: April 1, 2026
Service Type
Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures
Code Classes
Surgery
Ready to bill this code?
SnapBill makes OHIP billing simple — auto-filled codes, validation, and batch submission.