Billing code
G601A — Neonatal intensive care, Level A – day 2 onwards
NICU Level A, day 2+
Bill G601 per day from the second day of Level A neonatal intensive care, including the day an infant moves between levels.
Watch for: No other critical care codes or C101 premium are paid to you while billing NICU team fees.
| Provider | Specialist | Assistant | Anaesthetist | Non-anaesthetist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $187.95 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
- Code
- G601A
- Description
- Neonatal intensive care, Level A – day 2 onwards
- 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
Daily team fee for Level A neonatal intensive care from the second day onward.
What it covers
Neonatal intensive care is constant or periodic attendance over one day to provide all aspects of care to intensive care patients. It includes the initial consultation or assessment, later assessments and monitoring, and procedures such as arterial, venous, CVP or urinary catheters, IV lines, blood gases, NG tube, endotracheal intubation, tracheal toilet, ventilation and all respiratory support (J33).
Level A is full life support including monitoring, ventilatory support and parenteral alimentation. G601 is the per diem from day 2 onward (J33).
Billing rules
- These are team fees for neonatologists, paediatricians and anaesthesiologists providing complete care; physicians-in-charge share one daily fee as if there were one physician (J30, J33).
- If the infant moves from one level to another (up or down), second-day fees apply (J33).
- Separately billable interventions can be claimed in addition (J33).
- While claiming NICU fees, no other critical care codes are paid to the same physician, and life-threatening or other critical care (G521–G523, G395, G391) is not paid that day (J26–J28, J30).
- Not for stabilized patients or those in the unit only for monitoring, unless otherwise stated (J30).
- C101 ICU visit premium is not payable with NICU team fees (GP103).
- If the baby was discharged from the unit more than 48 hours and is re-admitted, bill the first-day rate again (J30).
Related codes: G600, G611, G621, G603, G604
Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures, Critical Care, page J33.
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