< Billing codes

Billing code

C039A — General surgery in-patient subsequent visit – after week 13

General surgery visit, week 14+

Bill C039 for a general surgeon's routine follow-up visit to a long-stay in-patient after the 13th week.

Watch for: Maximum 6 visits per patient per month; bill extra visits for an acute intercurrent illness as C121.

Code

C039A

Description

General surgery in-patient subsequent visit – after week 13

FHO+ basket

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

Effective date

Jun 1, 2025

Termination date

No end date

Explanation

Updated October 26, 2026

Routine follow-up visit to a long-stay hospital in-patient by a general surgeon after the thirteenth week, up to 6 per month.

What it covers

C039 is a subsequent visit after the thirteenth week of the stay, maximum 6 per patient per month, in the General Surgery (03) in-patient listings (A107).

Billing rules

• Maximum 6 visits per patient per month; extra visits are not payable (A107, GP43).
• Visits for an acute intercurrent illness beyond the limit are billed as C121 and do not count toward it (GP43).
• A subsequent visit is any routine assessment in hospital after the admission assessment (GP43).
• Count weeks from the admission date if you admitted the patient, or from the date of referral if the patient was referred to you in hospital (SP2, GP43).
• E083 MRP premium can be added when you are the most responsible physician; E084 (weekends/holidays) is not available to General Surgery (GP47).
• For emergency calls and other special visits to in-patients, use the General Listings and special visit premiums (A107).

Often billed with

• E083 subsequent visit by the MRP premium (GP47).

Related codes: C032, C037, C121, C038, C124

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Consultations and Visits, General Surgery (03), page A107.

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