W770 – Extended comprehensive geriatric consultation
OHIP Neurology Code — CONSULTATIONS AND VISITS · Schedule of Benefits
An extended comprehensive geriatric consultation rendered by a Geriatrics specialist (07) for a non-emergency patient in a long-term care institution. This service is subject to the same conditions as A770. As per , a consultation requires a written request from a referring physician, nurse practitioner, or dental surgeon. This service is intended for non-emergency in-patient services in settings such as Chronic Care Hospitals, Convalescent Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Homes for the Aged, or designated chronic/convalescent care beds in hospitals.
When to Use
- Use W770 for a comprehensive geriatric assessment of a patient residing in a long-term care facility or chronic care hospital when requested by the attending physician for a specific clinical concern.
- Select W770 when performing an initial, in-depth evaluation of a patient's cognitive or functional status in a nursing home setting that meets the criteria for a formal consultation as defined in GP16.
Common Pitfalls
- Failure to document the exact start and stop times in the patient's permanent medical record will lead to a rejection or a reduction to a lower-valued assessment fee.
- Submitting W770 for a patient in a standard hospital acute care bed is incorrect; this code is strictly for long-term care, chronic care, or convalescent settings.
- Billing W770 without a clear, written referral request from the attending physician or nurse practitioner on file violates the core requirement for a consultation.
Billing Tips
- Ensure the referral request is clearly documented in the common medical record of the facility, specifically identifying the consultant by name or specialty and the reason for the request.
- If the consultation is performed in a long-term care facility, ensure the service is not an emergency, as W770 is specifically designated for non-emergency, planned comprehensive assessments.
Effective: June 1, 2025
A. Consultations and Visits
CONSULTATIONS AND VISITS
Consultation
Consultations, Hospital and Institutional Consultations and Assessments
A copy of the written request for the consultation, signed by the referring physician, nurse practitioner or dental surgeon must be kept in the consulting physician’s medical record, except in the case of a consultation which occurs in a hospital, long-term care institution or multi-specialty clinic where common medical records are maintained. In such cases, the written request may be contained on the common medical record.
The request identifies the consultant by name and/or the specialty being consulted, the referring physician, nurse practitioner or dental surgeon by name and billing number, and identifies the patient by name and health number.
The written request sets out the information relevant to the referral and specifies the service(s) required.
The service is eligible for payment only if start and stop times of the service are recorded in the patient's permanent medical record.
at least 65 years of age
Subject to the same conditions as A770.
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