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Billing code

R592A — Tumours - Soft Tissues - Deep

Deep soft tissue tumour excision

Bill R592 for excision of a deep soft tissue tumour; the visit where you decided to operate is billed separately.

Watch for: Bill R592 only for a deep tumour; a superficial one is R591.

ProviderSpecialistAssistantAnaesthetistNon-anaesthetist
$484.35$0.00$77.46$111.72$111.72
Code
R592A
Description
Tumours - Soft Tissues - Deep
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 deep soft tissue tumour, from the elbow and forearm surgery listings. The decision-to-operate visit is billed separately.

What it covers

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

  • Bill R592 only for a deep tumour; a superficial one is R591 (N18).
  • The major pre-operative visit (the consultation or assessment where the decision to operate is made) is billed separately; it isn't part of the surgical fee (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 (R592B); anaesthetist: 7 basic units plus time units (R592C) (N18, GP85, GP92, SP5).
  • With other procedures under the same anaesthetic, the major procedure is paid in full and the others at 85% (SP2).
  • Excision of a tumour not specifically listed in the Schedule is claimed as R993 on an independent consideration basis (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 (General Surgery) when it is the major pre-operative visit, billed in addition to the surgical fee (GP4, SP2).

Related codes: R591, R523, R524, R293, R295, R993

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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