A777 – Intermediate assessment - Pronouncement of death
OHIP General Listings Code — CONSULTATIONS AND VISITS · Schedule of Benefits
Intermediate assessment – pronouncement of death is the service of pronouncing a patient dead in a location other than in the patient’s home. This service may include any counselling of relatives that is rendered during the same visit, and completion of the death certificate.
When to Use
- Bill A777 when you pronounce a patient deceased in a hospital emergency department, as this is a location other than the patient's home.
- Use A777 for pronouncement of death in a clinic setting, including after-hours clinics, provided it's not the patient's residence.
- A777 is appropriate for pronouncements occurring in a hospital ward or observation unit outside of the patient's home.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing A777 when the pronouncement occurred in the patient's home; A902 is the correct code for home pronouncements.
- Submitting A777 for a patient who was already pronounced dead by another physician; this code is for the physician performing the pronouncement.
- Using the immediate cause of death as the diagnostic code instead of the underlying cause of death as recorded on the death certificate.
Billing Tips
- A777 is not eligible for virtual care billing, as it is not listed in Appendix J.
- While A777 includes counselling of relatives and completion of the death certificate, these components do not warrant separate billing and are covered by the A777 fee.
Effective: April 1, 2026
A. Consultations and Visits
CONSULTATIONS AND VISITS
Consultations and Visits
Assessment
The physician must personally pronounce the patient dead.
The service must be rendered in a location other than the patient's home (e.g., hospital, clinic, or other facility).
Claims must be submitted using the diagnostic code for the underlying cause of death, as recorded on the death certificate, rather than the immediate cause of death.
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