K887 – CTO initiation
OHIP Consultation & Visit Premium Codes Code — CONSULTATIONS AND VISITS · Schedule of Benefits
CTO initiation is a time-based service that includes completing the CTO form and all preceding CTO services directly related to the initiation. A single all-inclusive claim for CTO initiation is submitted once per patient per physician per initiation in any six-month period and is assessed on an Independent Consideration basis. Claims must be submitted with the MOH form for elapsed times. For definitions and general time-keeping requirements, refer to , to .
When to Use
- Use K887 when you are the physician completing the mandatory CTO form and performing the associated clinical assessment required to initiate the order.
- Use this code for the initial setup phase; do not use K888 (CTO renewal) or K889 (CTO supervision) for the work involved in the primary initiation process.
Common Pitfalls
- Failing to submit the mandatory MOH elapsed time form with the claim will result in an automatic rejection.
- Including travel time in your unit calculation is a common audit trigger; while the service is insured, travel time must be excluded from the billable units as it is payable at nil.
- Billing K887 more than once in a six-month period for the same patient will be rejected, as the code is restricted to a single initiation per physician per six-month window.
Billing Tips
- Calculate your units by summing all insured activity time, dividing by 30, and rounding to the nearest whole unit; ensure your chart notes clearly delineate start and end times for each activity to support the total unit count.
Effective: April 1, 2026
A. Consultations and Visits
CONSULTATIONS AND VISITS
Other
Psychotherapy, Psychiatric and Counselling Services
The form provided by the MOH for elapsed times must be completed and submitted with each claim and a copy retained on the patient's permanent medical record.
The total number of allowable units must be calculated by adding the actual elapsed time of each insured activity rounded to the nearest minute, divided by 30 and rounded to the nearest whole unit.
The physician must record on the patient's permanent medical record or chart the time when the insured service started and ended, as required for all unit-based services.
A single all-inclusive claim for CTO Initiation or CTO Renewal is submitted once per patient per physician per initiation or renewal in any six month period on an Independent Consideration basis.
A single all-inclusive claim for CTO Supervision is submitted once per patient per month on an Independent Consideration basis.
The form provided by the MOH for elapsed times must be completed and submitted with each claim and a copy retained on the patient's permanent medical record.
The total number of allowable units rendered per claim shall be determined by adding the actual elapsed time of each insured activity rounded to the nearest minute, dividing by 30 and rounding to the nearest whole unit.
Travel to visit an insured person within the usual geographic area of the physician's practice is a common element of insured services. Time units for any CTO services based in whole or in part on travel time are therefore insured but payable at nil.
Travel time and expenses related to appearances before the Consent and Capacity Board are not insured.
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