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Billing code

C488A — Rheumatology concurrent care visit – hospital in-patient

Rheumatology concurrent care visit

Bill for a consulting rheumatologist's routine hospital visit while the family physician stays most responsible and asks for continued directive care.

Watch for: Limited to 4 claims in the first week of concurrent care, then 2 per week; can't be billed virtually.

Code

C488A

Description

Rheumatology concurrent care visit – hospital in-patient

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 in-patient visit by the consultant rheumatologist giving directive care while the family physician stays most responsible.

What it covers

Concurrent care is any routine hospital assessment by the consultant after their first major assessment, when the family physician remains the most responsible physician but asks the consultant to continue directive care (GP48).

C488 is the Rheumatology concurrent care listing, billed per visit (A205).

Billing rules

• C-prefix codes are for non-emergency services to acute hospital in-patients; emergency calls and special visits to in-patients use the A-prefix General Listings with premiums (A205, GP12).
• Limited to 4 claims per week in the first week of concurrent care, then 2 per week; extras aren't payable (GP48).
• The family physician must remain the MRP and must have asked for your continued directive care (GP48).
• Not on the Appendix J virtual care list (Appendix J).

Common rejections

• AM1: OHIP describes this as 'Service Limit Exceeded': more than 4 concurrent care visits in the first week or 2 per week after (GP48).
• AHF: OHIP describes this as 'Concurrent or Supportive Care Same Period': a concurrent or supportive care claim overlaps another for the same period; check who is MRP and the visit count (GP48).
• AT4: OHIP describes this as 'Modality Not Allowed': hospital subsequent and concurrent care visits aren't on the Appendix J virtual care list, so they can't carry K300A or K301A (Appendix J).

Related codes: C482, C487, C489, C485, C483

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Consultations and Visits, Rheumatology (48), Non-emergency hospital in-patient services, page A205.

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