J182 – Diagnostic ultrasound - per limb (excluding vascular study)
OHIP Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Code — DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND · Schedule of Benefits
markdown A diagnostic ultrasound of an extremity, such as an arm or leg, billed on a per-limb basis. This service explicitly excludes vascular studies. Payment Components: - The total fee for J182 is split into a technical component (H) and a professional component (P). The fees listed on the schedule are H: $25.50, P: $14.95. Note: The provided master fee record does not reflect these component fees. Payment Rules & Restrictions: - Technical Component (H): As per , the technical component is only payable when rendered in a hospital (e.g., out-patient department) or an ICHSC (). It is not payable for hospital in-patients or if the patient is admitted within 24 hours of the scan for the same condition. - The physician claiming the technical component must have the necessary training and maintain quality assurance documentation (). - Referral: This service may be referred by a physician or a nurse practitioner as per .
When to Use
- Use J182 for musculoskeletal ultrasound of a single limb to evaluate soft tissue masses, tendon tears, or joint effusions.
- Use J182 when assessing a specific anatomical site on a limb, such as a localized hematoma or foreign body, provided it is not a vascular study.
- Use J182 in conjunction with E447 when imaging two or more large joints (shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, or ankle) on the same limb during a single session.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing J182 for vascular assessments, such as DVT screening or arterial flow studies, which must be billed under the specific vascular diagnostic codes.
- Attempting to claim the technical component (H) for services performed in a private office setting, as this is restricted to hospitals or ICHSCs per GP11.
- Submitting J182 for in-patients or patients admitted within 24 hours of the scan, which violates the technical component payment rules.
Billing Tips
- Always append E447 to your J182 claim when imaging multiple large joints on the same limb to trigger the 25% fee increase.
- Ensure the referring physician or nurse practitioner's name and billing number are clearly linked to the claim to satisfy the mandatory referral requirement.
Effective: April 1, 2025
G. Diagnostic Ultrasound
DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND
Diagnostic
Diagnostic Ultrasound
markdown In accordance with , the physician submitting a claim for the technical component is responsible for the complete quality assurance process and must maintain documentation that describes the process by which the physician monitors quality assurance in accordance with professional standards.
markdown Excluding vascular study.
Ready to bill this code?
SnapBill makes OHIP billing simple — auto-filled codes, validation, and batch submission.