C210 – Special anaesthetic consultation
OHIP Surgical Procedures Code — CONSULTATIONS AND VISITS · Schedule of Benefits
A special anaesthetic consultation rendered to a non-emergency hospital in-patient. This service is subject to the same conditions as A210. As per the definition of a special surgical consultation on , this service is rendered when an anaesthesiologist provides all the appropriate elements of a regular consultation and is required to devote at least fifty minutes exclusively to the consultation with the patient. The 50-minute minimum excludes time devoted to any other service or procedure for which an amount is payable in addition to the consultation. All standard consultation requirements apply, including a written request from a referring practitioner and a written report of findings back to the referrer as outlined on .
When to Use
- Use C210 for a comprehensive, non-emergency preoperative anaesthetic assessment of a hospital inpatient that requires at least 50 minutes of exclusive face-to-face time.
- Use this code when the patient has complex comorbidities requiring an extensive review of medical records, diagnostic investigations, and a detailed discussion of anaesthetic risks and management plans.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing C210 for emergency or urgent consultations; these must be billed using A210 with the appropriate 'C' prefix special visit premiums.
- Failing to explicitly document the start and end times of the consultation, which is a mandatory requirement to substantiate the 50-minute minimum threshold during an audit.
- Including time spent on other procedures or chart reviews performed outside of the direct patient interaction, as the 50 minutes must be devoted exclusively to the consultation.
Billing Tips
- Ensure the referring physician's request is clearly documented in the patient's chart, as the absence of a formal referral will result in the claim being downgraded to a lower-value assessment code.
- If the consultation is interrupted or does not meet the 50-minute requirement, you must bill a standard assessment code rather than C210 to avoid automatic rejection or recovery.
Effective: June 1, 2025
A. Consultations and Visits
CONSULTATIONS AND VISITS
Consultation
Hospital and Institutional Consultations and Assessments, Consultations
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 where common medical records are maintained.
The time spent with the patient must be recorded in the medical record to substantiate the 50-minute minimum requirement.
subject to same conditions as A210
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