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Billing code

R591A — Tumours - Soft Tissues - Superficial

Superficial soft tissue tumour excision

Bill R591 for excision of a superficial soft tissue tumour; the visit where you decided to operate is billed separately.

Watch for: A deep tumour is R592, and a tumour not specifically listed is claimed as R993 by independent consideration.

Code

R591A

Description

Tumours - Soft Tissues - Superficial

FHO+ basket

Not in the FHO+ base rate basket (Schedule 2 or 2B).

Effective date

Apr 1, 2026

Termination date

No end date

Explanation

Updated October 26, 2026

Excision of a superficial soft tissue tumour, from the elbow and forearm surgery listings. The decision-to-operate visit is billed separately.

What it covers

R591 is excision of a superficial soft tissue tumour, listed under Excision, Tumours, Soft tissues in the Elbow and Forearm part of the Musculoskeletal System Surgical Procedures section (N18). A deep soft tissue tumour is R592 (N18).

As a surgical procedure without a Z prefix, the fee includes preparing the patient, the operation, recovery-room care, arranging follow-up and post-operative care until the first post-operative visit (SP1). It is marked #: the fee doesn't include the premises, equipment, supplies and staff for the procedure itself (SP1).

Billing rules

• The major pre-operative visit (the consultation or assessment where the decision to operate is made) is not part of the surgical fee and is billed separately, whenever it took place (GP4, SP2).
• The surgeon can't bill a hospital or day-care admission assessment unless it is the major pre-operative visit (SP2).
• Surgical assistant: 6 basic units plus time units, billed as R591B; anaesthetist: 6 basic units plus time units, billed as R591C (N18, GP85, GP92, SP5).
• With other procedures under the same anaesthetic, the major procedure is paid in full and the others at 85% (SP2).
• Where a procedure is specifically listed under Surgical Procedures, use that listing rather than a plastic surgery fee under Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue (SP4).
• Excision of a tumour not specifically listed in the Schedule is claimed on an independent consideration basis as R993 (SP4).
• Age premiums apply to patients under 16, from 10% (ages 5 to 15) up to 30% (under 30 days) (GP64).

Often billed with

• A034 partial assessment or A035 consultation (General Surgery) when it is the major pre-operative visit, billed in addition to the surgical fee (GP4, SP2).
• U990/U991 hospital out-patient special visit premiums belong to the visit, not to R591: special visit premiums are only payable with Consultations and Visits or Diagnostic and Therapeutic services, for a non-elective special visit (GP65, GP71).

Related codes: R592, R595, R524, R294, R295, R993, Z125, Z096

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Musculoskeletal System Surgical Procedures, Elbow and Forearm, Excision - Tumours - Soft tissues, page N18; Surgical Preamble SP1-SP5; General Preamble GP4, GP64, GP85

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