G208 – Provocation testing
OHIP Diagnostic & Therapeutic Procedures Code — DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
Provocation testing for foods, food additives and medications, by blinded or open technique, maximum 5 testing sessions per 12 month period. This is a time-based service where a unit is defined as one hour or a major part thereof. If the allergic response is respiratory, only one pulmonary function test is eligible for payment on the same day as G208.
When to Use
- Use G208 when performing a formal oral food challenge to confirm a suspected food allergy that cannot be definitively diagnosed via skin prick or serum IgE testing.
- Use G208 for supervised drug provocation testing to rule out hypersensitivity to medications like antibiotics or NSAIDs in a controlled clinical setting.
- Use G208 for blinded or open food additive challenges when a patient reports adverse reactions to specific preservatives or dyes.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing G208 without explicitly recording the start and end times in the chart will lead to automatic rejection or clawback during an audit.
- Attempting to bill multiple pulmonary function tests on the same day as G208 will result in the rejection of the additional tests due to the specific restriction in the Schedule of Benefits.
- Confusing G208 with general consultation or assessment codes; G208 is strictly for the time spent conducting the provocation procedure, not the pre-test evaluation.
Billing Tips
- Ensure the total time billed reflects the actual duration of the provocation session, as this is a time-based code where one unit equals one hour or a major part thereof.
- If the provocation results in a respiratory response, prioritize billing the most complex pulmonary function test allowed, as only one is permitted alongside G208.
Effective: April 1, 2026
J. Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures
DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES
Procedure
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures
As a time-based service, the physician must record the start and end times of the service in the patient's permanent medical record. Failure to do so makes the service not eligible for payment.
For foods, food additives and medications, by blinded or open technique.
Ready to bill this code?
SnapBill makes OHIP billing simple — auto-filled codes, validation, and batch submission.