H981 – Additional person(s) seen
OHIP Obstetrics Code — GENERAL PREAMBLE · Schedule of Benefits
This is an 'additional person seen' special visit premium for services rendered by an Emergency Department Physician, as defined in the Schedule of Benefits (). It is payable for each additional patient seen after the first during a single non-elective special visit to an Emergency Department. The visit must be initiated by a patient or on behalf of a patient for the purpose of rendering a non-elective service (). This premium is only eligible for payment when the physician is required to travel to the hospital to make the special visit (). The associated assessment must be claimed with an appropriate 'A' prefix fee code.
When to Use
- Use H981 for the second or subsequent patient when you are called in to the ED to see multiple patients during a single non-elective special visit.
- Apply this code when you have already claimed the first patient under H980 and are required to assess additional patients during the same travel-required call-back.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing H981 for patients seen while you are already physically present in the hospital for rounds or scheduled shifts, which violates the travel requirement.
- Attempting to claim H981 in conjunction with H-prefix emergency department codes, which are strictly prohibited by the Schedule of Benefits.
- Failing to link the assessment to an 'A' prefix code, as H981 is a premium that must be attached to a standard assessment fee.
Billing Tips
- Ensure your documentation clearly records the time of the request to attend the ED, as this is the primary audit trigger for validating the travel requirement.
- Always pair H981 with the appropriate 'A' prefix assessment code (e.g., A007) to ensure the claim is processed correctly as a special visit premium.
Effective: April 1, 2026
GP. General Preamble
GENERAL PREAMBLE
Premium
Special Visit Premiums (Table V - Emergency Department by Emergency Department Physician)
The time of the request to attend in the emergency department must be documented on the medical record.
The specific situation requiring the physician's attendance must be documented on the medical record.
This premium is for services rendered in an Emergency Department by an Emergency Department Physician (as defined on ).
Ready to bill this code?
SnapBill makes OHIP billing simple — auto-filled codes, validation, and batch submission.