Billing code
G196A — Hypersensitivity Skin Test For Validated Drugs Or Agents Excluding Foods And Inhalants, Maximum Of 3 Per Patient Per Physician Per 12 Month Period
Drug allergy skin test
Bill G196 for a hypersensitivity skin test to validated drugs or agents, not foods or inhalants.
Watch for: Maximum 3 per patient per physician per 12 months; tests over the limit aren't paid.
| Provider | Specialist | Assistant | Anaesthetist | Non-anaesthetist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $17.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
- Code
- G196A
- Description
- Hypersensitivity Skin Test For Validated Drugs Or Agents Excluding Foods And Inhalants, Maximum Of 3 Per Patient Per Physician Per 12 Month Period
- FHO+ basket
- Not in the FHO+ base rate basket (Schedule 2 or 2B).
- Effective date
- Apr 1, 2025
- Termination date
- No end date
Explanation
Updated October 26, 2026
Hypersensitivity skin test for validated drugs or agents, not foods or inhalants. Maximum 3 per patient per physician per 12 months.
What it covers
G196 is an allergy skin test for hypersensitivity to validated drugs or agents, excluding foods and inhalants (J5). Local anaesthetic hypersensitivity testing is G195, venom allergy testing is G199, and general skin testing is G209/G197 (J5).
Billing rules
- Maximum 3 per patient per physician per 12-month period, counted in date order; services over the limit are not eligible for payment (J5, GP7).
- When testing with penicillin minor determinant mixture outside a hospital, add E582 to G196 (J5).
- Payable in addition to a consultation or assessment, since diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are not included in them unless listed (J3).
- Not marked (+), so the G700 sole-visit premium does not apply (J3, J5).
Often billed with
- An assessment such as A007, or a specialist consultation or assessment, the same day (J3).
- E582 when penicillin minor determinant mixture is used outside hospital (J5).
Related codes: G195, G199, E582, G197, G209, G185, G208
Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures, Allergy, page J5; section preamble J3; General Preamble GP7
APEX checks every paid claim against the Schedule of Benefits and flags codes billed below what the visit qualified for. See how APEX works · Pricing