R973 – Bone transport - circular external fixation (less than or equal to 6 cm)
OHIP Radiology Code — MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
Bone transport - circular external fixation (less than or equal to 6 cm). R973 is a surgical procedure. A detailed description of this procedure is not available in the provided text. Payment for this service is subject to the general rules outlined in the Schedule of Benefits, including but not limited to: - Suffix eligibility for surgeon (A), assistant (B), and anaesthetist (C) as described on page . - Calculation of fees for surgical assistants based on basic and time units (, ). - Calculation of fees for anaesthesiologists based on basic and time units (, ). - Eligibility for age-based premiums () and other applicable premiums like after-hours and trauma premiums (, ).
When to Use
- Use R973 specifically for bone transport procedures utilizing circular external fixation where the transport distance is 6 cm or less.
- Select R973 when performing the definitive surgical application of the circular frame for transport, distinguishing it from simple fracture fixation codes like R403 or R331.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing R973 for transport distances exceeding 6 cm, which requires the use of R974 instead to avoid audit recovery.
- Attempting to bill R973 in conjunction with other fracture management codes for the same bone segment without explicit documentation of distinct, separate procedures, which often leads to rejection for 'incidental' billing.
- Failure to provide the required letter of justification when attempting to bill for a second surgical assistant, as R973 is not on the pre-approved list for multiple assistants.
Billing Tips
- Ensure the operative report explicitly documents the measured distance of the bone transport to justify the selection of R973 over higher-value codes.
- If the procedure is abandoned after anaesthesia induction but before the surgical start, ensure you bill the appropriate E-code (E006B/C) rather than attempting to claim R973.
Effective: April 1, 2025
N. Musculoskeletal System Surgical Procedures
MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Surgical
Musculoskeletal System Surgical Procedures
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