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Billing code

C945A — Special Palliative Care Consultation (hospital)

Special palliative in-patient consultation

Bill for a referred palliative care consultation on a hospital in-patient with at least 50 minutes of direct contact, mostly with the patient.

Watch for: Record start and stop times, or it pays a lesser fee; bill time over 50 minutes as K023.

Code

C945A

Description

Special Palliative Care Consultation (hospital)

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

Special palliative care consultation of at least 50 minutes for a hospital in-patient, on referral. Same conditions as A945.

What it covers

A special palliative care consultation is requested because specialized palliative management is needed. You spend at least 50 minutes in direct contact with the patient and/or family or representative, mostly with the patient, not counting other separately billable services (A1). C945 is the in-patient version and is subject to the same conditions as A945 (A12).

Besides the usual parts of a consultation, it includes a psychosocial assessment, a full review of medications, counselling and considering community services where needed (A1).

Billing rules

• Record start and stop times in the chart, or it is paid at a lesser fee (A1).
• Over 50 minutes, add K023 units; K023 time starts 50 minutes after the C945 start time (A1, A2).
• Needs a written consultation request and report like any consultation (GP16). Counts toward the consultation limits (GP17, GP18).
• Video only as virtual care (Appendix J AJ2). For in-patients, the virtual physician must not be the MRP, and the referrer must have assessed the patient in person within 30 days (A69).
• FHO: counts toward the palliative care special payment (Agreement p.66 §8.6).

Often billed with

• K023 palliative care support for time beyond 50 minutes (A1, A2).

Common rejections

• ARF: 'Missing physician referring number': a consultation claim needs the referring physician's or nurse practitioner's billing number (GP16).
• AT2: 'Must include video modality': C945 is a video-only virtual service; it can't be billed by phone (Appendix J AJ2).

Related codes: A945, K023, C005, C911, C882

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Consultations and Visits, Family Practice & Practice in General (00), page A12; conditions A1.

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