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Billing code

G208A — Provocation Testing - Per Unit

Food or drug challenge test

Bill G208 per one-hour unit of office provocation testing for foods, food additives or medications.

Watch for: Record start and stop times in the chart or it isn't paid; maximum 5 sessions per 12 months.

Code

G208A

Description

Provocation Testing - Per Unit

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

Office provocation testing for foods, food additives or medications, per one-hour unit. Maximum 5 testing sessions per 12 months.

What it covers

G208 is provocation testing for foods, food additives and medications, by blinded or open technique, billed per unit of time (J4).

Serial provocation testing in a hospital, when an anaphylactic reaction is considered likely from a documented history and under direct, ongoing physician attendance, is G190 (J5).

Billing rules

• Time-based: a unit is one hour or major part of an hour, not a half-hour (J4).
• Record start and stop times in the chart, or the service is not eligible for payment (GP7, J5).
• Maximum 5 testing sessions per 12-month period (J4).
• If the allergic response is respiratory, only one pulmonary function test is payable the same day as G208 (J4).
• Not payable for the same patient on the same day as A620, initiation of food allergy immunotherapy (A83).
• Payable in addition to a consultation or assessment (J3).

Often billed with

• A consultation or assessment by the testing specialist, such as A263 or A264 (Paediatrics) or A623 (Clinical Immunology) (J3).
• G197 and G209 skin testing when also done (J5).
• One pulmonary function study, such as J301, if the reaction is respiratory (J4).

Common rejections

• EQ2: The specialty code on the claim wasn't registered and active for the physician on the service date. Correct it, or update the registration, then resubmit.
• A3H: More services were claimed than OHIP allows. G208 is limited to 5 testing sessions per 12 months (J4); also check the number of hour units on the line.
• EH2: The health card version code on the claim doesn't match OHIP's record, often because the patient has a newer card; get the current version code and resubmit.

Related codes: G190, G207, G197, G209

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures, Allergy, Provocation testing, pages J4 to J5; Clinical Immunology (62) A620 rules on A83; General Preamble GP7

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