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Billing code

A034A — Partial Assessment

Brief general surgery visit

A general surgeon bills A034 for a partial assessment: history of the complaint, the exam needed, advice and a record.

Watch for: If you made the decision to operate that same day, no assessment is payable before the Z-code procedure.

Code

A034A

Description

Partial Assessment

FHO+ basket

Not in the FHO+ base rate basket (Schedule 2 or 2B).

Effective date

Apr 1, 2026

Termination date

No end date

Explanation

Updated October 26, 2026

General Surgery (03) partial assessment: history of the presenting complaint, the exam needed, and advice to the patient.

What it covers

A034 is the partial assessment in the General Surgery (03) listing (A107). A partial assessment is a limited service: a history of the presenting complaint, the necessary physical examination, advice to the patient and an appropriate record (GP25).

The General Surgery listing also has a fuller specific assessment (A033) and consultations (A035, A935) (A107).

Billing rules

• Specialists bill consultations and visits from their own specialty's listing (GP9).
• On the day of a Z-code (independent) procedure, if the same surgeon did the major pre-operative visit in the previous 12 months, a partial assessment is the only assessment payable before the procedure that day. If the major pre-operative visit is the same day, no other assessment is payable before the procedure (SP4).
• A hospital or day care admission assessment, including a partial assessment, can't be billed by the surgeon unless it is the major pre-operative visit (SP2).
• Detention (K001) can only start after 30 minutes of a partial assessment (GP30).
• A034 can be billed by video or telephone as comprehensive virtual care when an existing relationship exists, with K300A or K301A (A70, AJ1).
• Only one assessment is payable per visit (GP10).

Often billed with

• Z-code independent operative procedures, which are payable in addition to an assessment (GP4, SP4).
• K300A or K301A when done by video or telephone (A70).

Common rejections

• A3F: OHIP's description is 'no fee for this code on service date': OHIP had no payable fee for the code on that date. Check the service date and the fee code on the claim.
• EH2: The health card version code doesn't match the Ministry's record. Get the current version code and resubmit.
• VH8: The date of birth doesn't match OHIP's record for the health number. Correct it and resubmit.
• AT3: Billed by video or phone (K300A/K301A), but OHIP found no existing relationship: no in-person service in 24 months and no enrolment to you or your group (A66). Otherwise bill A101/A102.
• ERF: OHIP's description is 'referring physician not currently eligible to refer'. Check the referring provider number on the claim matches the provider who signed the written request.

Related codes: A035, A033, A935, A036, C034

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Consultations and Visits, General Surgery (03), page A107; General Preamble GP25 (partial assessment); Surgical Preamble SP2 and SP4

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