What are the billing rules for B986A?

Only payable to a specialist in Geriatrics (07) or a physician with a Ministry exemption to access bonus impact in Care of the Elderly (GP67). A travel premium is paid for travel from one location to another, once per trip no matter how many patients you see (GP66). Bill it with the A-prefix assessment from the General Listings for the visit (GP69).

What is B986A often billed with?

B988 first person seen (daytime, evening, weekend or holiday) or B987 (nights 00:00–07:00) (GP77).

Why is B986A rejected?

AD9: OHIP describes this as 'Premium not allowed alone': a special visit premium must be billed with an A-prefix assessment from the General Listings on the same claim (GP65, GP69). A4D: OHIP describes this as 'Invalid specialty for this service code': Table X premiums are only for Geriatrics (07) or physicians with the Care of the Elderly exemption (GP67).

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Billing code

B986A — Geriatric home visit – travel premium

Q: What is OHIP billing code B986A?

Travel premium for a geriatrician's special visit to a patient's home, any day or time.

Geriatric home visit travel premium

Bill B986 for a geriatrician's travel to a special visit in the patient's home, any day or time.

Watch for: Only payable to a Geriatrics specialist or a physician with the Care of the Elderly exemption; bill with an A-prefix assessment.

Provider	Specialist	Assistant	Anaesthetist	Non-anaesthetist
$37.40	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00

Code: B986A
Description: Geriatric home visit – travel premium
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

Travel premium for a geriatrician's special visit to a patient's home, any day or time.

What it covers

B986 is the travel premium in Special Visit Premium Table X, Geriatric Home Visit. It is the same at all times of day and every day of the week, with no maximum per time period (GP77).

A special visit is a visit the patient (or someone for them) asks for to get a non-elective service; in the patient's home it can be elective or non-elective (GP65). 'Home' means the patient's residence, including an apartment, retirement home, hotel, residence, shelter, correctional facility or group home, but not a hospital or long-term care home (GP4).

Billing rules

Only payable to a specialist in Geriatrics (07) or a physician with a Ministry exemption to access bonus impact in Care of the Elderly (GP67).
A travel premium is paid for travel from one location to another, once per trip no matter how many patients you see (GP66).
Bill it with the A-prefix assessment from the General Listings for the visit (GP69).
Record the time of the visit in the medical record (GP69).
No maximum per time period (GP77).
Not payable during routine office hours or for walk-in patients, with H-prefix ED codes, or for a place scheduled to be open for patients (GP65).

Often billed with

B988 first person seen (daytime, evening, weekend or holiday) or B987 (nights 00:00–07:00) (GP77).

Common rejections

AD9: OHIP describes this as 'Premium not allowed alone': a special visit premium must be billed with an A-prefix assessment from the General Listings on the same claim (GP65, GP69).
A4D: OHIP describes this as 'Invalid specialty for this service code': Table X premiums are only for Geriatrics (07) or physicians with the Care of the Elderly exemption (GP67).

Related codes: B988, B987, B960, B990, A075, A074

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), General Preamble, Special Visit Premiums, page GP77. Rules GP65–GP69.

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