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Billing code

A478A — Respiratory disease partial assessment

Respirology partial assessment

Bill A478 for a limited respirology visit: history of the complaint, the needed exam, advice and a record.

Watch for: Add E078 in the office or out-patient clinic when the patient has an established chronic disease from the listed diagnostic codes.

Code

A478A

Description

Respiratory disease 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

Partial assessment by a respirologist: history of the complaint, the needed exam, advice and a record.

What it covers

A478 is a partial assessment by a specialist in Respiratory Disease (A197).

A partial assessment is a limited service: a history of the presenting complaint, the necessary physical exam, advice to the patient and an appropriate record (GP25).

Billing rules

• Add E078 (+50%) chronic disease assessment premium in the office or a hospital out-patient clinic (not ED, in-patient or LTC) when the patient has an established chronic disease from the GP26 diagnostic code list, such as 491–493 (A197, GP25–GP26).
• Detention (K001) is payable only after 30 minutes (GP30).
• On the day of a Z-code procedure (IOP) after a major pre-operative visit in the prior 12 months, a partial assessment is the only assessment a specialist can bill before the procedure (SP4).
• Can be done by video or phone with an existing patient relationship; add K300A (video) or K301A (phone) (AJ1, A66).

Often billed with

• E078 chronic disease assessment premium (+50%), office or hospital out-patient clinic only (A197, GP25).

Related codes: A473, A474, A471, A570, E078

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Consultations and Visits, Respiratory Disease (47), page A197. Rules GP25, SP4.

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