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Billing code

H261A — Newborn care by a paediatrician – hospital or home

Well newborn care (paediatrics)

Bill H261 for a paediatrician's routine care of a well newborn, in hospital or at home, during the first 10 days of life.

Watch for: Maximum one per patient, unless the well baby is transferred to another hospital; then a physician at each hospital may bill it.

Code

H261A

Description

Newborn care by a paediatrician – hospital or home

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

Paediatrician's routine care of a well newborn in hospital or at home for up to the first 10 days of life.

What it covers

Newborn care is routine care of a well newborn for up to the first ten days of life, in hospital or at home. It includes an initial general assessment, later assessments as needed, and instructions to the caregivers (GP32).

H261 is the Paediatrics listing (A174).

Billing rules

• Maximum one per patient, except when a well baby is transferred to another hospital; then a physician at each hospital may bill it (GP33).
• A special visit premium can be added when you make an extra hospital visit outside your normal rounds to discharge the newborn that day (GP33).
• When an obstetrician routinely transfers all newborns to you, don't bill a consultation; for a well baby bill newborn care plus attendance at delivery (H267) if you attended (K3).
• For a sick baby, bill the appropriate assessment and daily visits instead (K3).

Often billed with

• H267 attendance at maternal delivery, when you attended (K3).

Related codes: H267, C263, C265, H001, C262

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Consultations and Visits, Paediatrics (26), page A174; definition GP32–GP33.

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