< Billing codes

Billing code

A771A — Certification of death (Completion of death certificate alone)

Death certificate completion

Bill A771 when you personally complete the death certificate for a patient someone else pronounced dead.

Watch for: Use the diagnostic code for the underlying cause of death; it pays nil when billed with your own pronouncement of death.

Code

A771A

Description

Certification of death (Completion of death certificate alone)

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

Completing the death certificate for a patient pronounced dead by another physician, resident or authorized health professional.

What it covers

Certification of death is payable to the physician who personally completes the death certificate for a patient who was pronounced dead by another physician, a medical resident or another authorized health professional. It may include counselling relatives at the same visit (A7).

The OMA palliative care guide points to A771 when the physician completes the certificate after a nurse or physician has pronounced death at home (OMA palliative guide p.6).

Billing rules

• The claim must carry the diagnostic code for the underlying cause of death as recorded on the death certificate (A7).
• When done together with pronouncement of death (A902 at home, A777 or C777 elsewhere), certification is included and payable at nil (A7).
• Only the physician who personally completes the certificate may bill it (A7).
• In hospital the code is C771, subject to the same conditions (A12).

Related codes: A902, A777, C777, C771, W771, A772

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Consultations and Visits, Family Practice & Practice in General (00), Certification of death, page A7; C771 on page A12

APEX checks every paid claim against the Schedule of Benefits and flags codes billed below what the visit qualified for. See how APEX works · Pricing