All codes
J817
J817 – Thyroid uptake
OHIP Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Code — NUCLEAR MEDICINE - IN VIVO · Schedule of Benefits
Represents the measurement of thyroid uptake, a nuclear medicine diagnostic procedure. This service is comprised of a technical component (H Fee) and a professional component (P Fee). The technical component covers the cost of equipment, supplies, and personnel, while the professional component covers the physician's interpretation. A repeat uptake is billed under J870.
When to Use
- Use J817 for the initial diagnostic measurement of thyroid uptake when investigating hyperthyroidism or suspected thyroid masses.
- Select J817 when assessing multinodular glands to guide subsequent tissue sampling or when evaluating thyroid nodules that yielded equivocal results on Fine Needle Aspiration.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing J817 for adult hypothyroidism investigations will result in rejection, as nuclear thyroid assessment is not indicated for this condition.
- Attempting to bill J817 for thyroid nodules smaller than 1 cm is an audit risk, as these are considered too small for accurate assessment via scintigraphy.
- Claiming the technical component (H Fee) for an inpatient or a patient admitted within 24 hours of the service violates the hospital diagnostic service payment rules.
Billing Tips
- Ensure you use J870 instead of J817 for any repeat uptake measurements to avoid claim rejection for duplicate service.
Provider Fee$0.00
Surgical Assistant Fee$30.25
Non-Anaesthetist Fee$18.25
Effective: April 1, 2025
Category
B. Nuclear Medicine - IN VIVO
Subcategory
NUCLEAR MEDICINE - IN VIVO
Service Type
Diagnostic
Code Classes
Nuclear Medicine - IN VIVO
Referral RequiredFrom: Physician, NursePractitioner, OralMaxillofacialSurgeon, Midwife
Ready to bill this code?
SnapBill makes OHIP billing simple — auto-filled codes, validation, and batch submission.