J850 – Bone scintigraphy - general survey
OHIP Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Code — NUCLEAR MEDICINE - IN VIVO · Schedule of Benefits
A general survey bone scintigraphy, which is a diagnostic test in nuclear medicine that uses a small amount of radioactive material to create images of the bones. It is used to identify conditions such as fractures, infections, or cancer. The fee for this service is divided into a professional component (P) and a technical component (H). Per the notes on page of the Schedule, J850 and J851 cannot be billed together. Additionally, J804 may be claimed in addition to J850 for a blood pool study.
When to Use
- Use J850 for a whole-body bone scintigraphy survey to detect metastatic disease, metabolic bone disorders, or occult fractures.
- Select J850 when the clinical indication requires a comprehensive skeletal assessment rather than the localized or specific imaging provided by other nuclear medicine protocols.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing J850 and J851 together is a common error that will result in an automatic claim rejection due to the explicit restriction in the Schedule.
- Failing to maintain documentation of the technical quality assurance process for the technical component (H) is a significant audit risk, as the MOH requires proof of data acquisition and record-keeping oversight.
Billing Tips
- Always append J804 if a blood pool study was performed in conjunction with the bone survey to ensure you are capturing the additional diagnostic work performed.
- Ensure the technical component (H) and professional component (P) are billed correctly based on your specific role in the service delivery to avoid payment discrepancies.
Effective: April 1, 2025
B. Nuclear Medicine - IN VIVO
NUCLEAR MEDICINE - IN VIVO
Diagnostic
Nuclear Medicine - IN VIVO
The physician submitting a claim for the technical component is responsible for the complete quality assurance process for all elements of the technical component of the service, including data acquisition, reporting, and record keeping. The physician must be able to demonstrate the above upon request by the MOH.
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