A710 – Comprehensive Critical Care Medicine Consultation
OHIP General Listings Code — Critical Care Medicine (11) · Schedule of Benefits
A consultation rendered by a specialist in critical care medicine who provides all the appropriate elements of a consultation and spends a minimum of 75 minutes in direct contact with the patient, exclusive of time spent rendering any other separately billable intervention to the patient.
When to Use
- Bill A710 when a critical care specialist spends a minimum of 75 minutes directly with a patient for a comprehensive assessment, and no other separately billable procedures are performed during that time.
- Use A710 for a new patient consultation requiring a detailed review of complex medical history and multiple diagnostic findings, exceeding the scope of a limited consultation (A915).
- A710 is appropriate when a referring physician requests a comprehensive critical care evaluation, and the specialist provides a full assessment including findings, opinions, and recommendations in a written report.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing A710 when the direct patient contact time is less than 75 minutes; this may lead to the claim being reduced to a lesser assessment fee.
- Including time spent on procedures or interventions (e.g., intubation, central line insertion) in the 75-minute calculation for A710, as this time must be excluded.
- Failing to obtain and retain a written request for consultation, or not providing a written report to the referring provider, can result in claim rejection or downcoding.
Billing Tips
- Ensure the start and end times of the 75-minute direct patient contact are clearly documented in the patient's chart to support the A710 claim.
- Verify that the written request for consultation includes all required elements (patient details, referring provider's name and billing number, consultant's name/specialty) before submitting A710.
Effective: June 1, 2025
Consultations and Visits
Critical Care Medicine (11)
Critical Care Medicine
Consultation
Minimum of 75 minutes in direct contact with the patient.
The start and stop times must be recorded in the patient’s permanent medical record.
A copy of the written request for the consultation, signed by the referring physician, nurse practitioner or dental surgeon must be kept in the consulting physician’s medical record, except in the case of a consultation which occurs in a hospital, long-term care institution or multi-specialty clinic where common medical records are maintained. In such cases, the written request may be contained on the common medical record.
The request identifies the consultant by name and/or the specialty being consulted, the referring physician, nurse practitioner or dental surgeon by name and billing number, and identifies the patient by name and health number.
The written request sets out the information relevant to the referral and specifies the service(s) required.
A written report (including findings, opinions, and recommendations) must be provided to the referring physician, nurse practitioner or dental surgeon. Where the referral is made by a nurse practitioner, the consultant shall provide the report to the nurse practitioner and the patient’s primary care provider, if applicable.
The consultant must perform a general, specific or medical specific assessment, including a review of all relevant data.
The calculation of time excludes time devoted to any other service or procedure for which an amount is payable in addition to the consultation.
The calculation of time excludes non-patient-facing time such as time spent reviewing charts, imaging, or documentation.
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