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Billing code

C771A — Certification of death (Subject to same conditions as A771)

In-patient death certificate

Bill when you complete the death certificate for a hospital in-patient pronounced dead by another physician or authorized health professional.

Watch for: Paid at nil when billed with A902, A777 or C777; use the underlying cause of death as the diagnosis.

Code

C771A

Description

Certification of death (Subject to same conditions as A771)

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 hospital in-patient pronounced dead by someone else. Same conditions as A771.

What it covers

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

C771 is the in-patient version, subject to the same conditions as A771 (A12).

Billing rules

• Include the diagnostic code for the underlying cause of death on the death certificate (A7).
• Payable at nil when done with A902, A777 or C777 (A7).

Related codes: A771, W771, C777, A777, A772

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

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