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Billing code

C162A — Nephrology hospital subsequent visit – first five weeks

Nephrology hospital visit, weeks 1–5

Bill C162 for a nephrologist's routine in-patient follow-up visit in the first five weeks after admission.

Watch for: Limited to one per patient per day in the first 5 weeks; extra visits are not payable.

Code

C162A

Description

Nephrology hospital subsequent visit – first five weeks

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

Routine nephrology follow-up visit to a hospital in-patient during the first five weeks after admission, one per patient per day.

What it covers

A hospital subsequent visit is any routine assessment in hospital after the admission assessment. When several physicians in different disciplines are needed, each physician's visit is a subsequent visit, except where a single team fee is listed, such as the weekly dialysis team fee (GP43).

C162 is the nephrology subsequent visit for the first five weeks after admission (A138).

Billing rules

• Limited to one subsequent visit per patient per day for the first 5 weeks after admission; excess visits are not payable (GP43).
• When an in-patient is referred to you, the date you first assess the patient counts as the admission date for choosing the subsequent visit code; after a transfer of care, count from the actual admission date (GP43).
• If you are the MRP, the day after the admission assessment, the second day and the discharge day have their own codes: C122, C123 and C124/C126 (A138; GP44–GP45).
• As the MRP, add E083 (+30%), or E084 (+45%) on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays; only one per patient per day, and only if hospital pay for in-patient work is absent or reduced accordingly (GP47).
• For chronic dialysis patients, admission assessments and subsequent visits to acute care in-patients for complications of dialysis, chronic renal disease or intercurrent illness are not included in the dialysis team fee and are billed separately (J39).
• Assessing another physician's patient on an emergency basis uses the A-prefix General Listings (GP43).
• Not listed in Appendix J, so it is not payable by video or telephone (A68, AJ1–AJ2).

Often billed with

• E083 or E084 MRP premium when you are the most responsible physician (GP47).

Common rejections

• AM1: More than one subsequent visit per patient per day was claimed in the first 5 weeks (GP43).

Related codes: C167, C169, C168, C122, C124, C121, E083

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Consultations and Visits, Nephrology (16), page A138; rules GP43–GP47.

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