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Billing code

H963A — Sat., Sun. And Holidays (07:00 - 24:00)

ED callback travel, weekend/holiday

Bill H963 when an ED physician away from the hospital is called in to the ED for a special visit, weekends and holidays 07:00–24:00.

Watch for: Bill it with the A-prefix assessment, not H-prefix ED codes; one per trip and maximum 4 travel premiums per time period.

Code

H963A

Description

Sat., Sun. And Holidays (07:00 - 24:00)

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

Travel premium for an ED physician called back to the emergency department, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays (07:00 to 24:00).

What it covers

H963 is the travel premium in Special Visit Premium Table V for an Emergency Department Physician who travels to the hospital ED for a special visit during Saturdays, Sundays and holidays (07:00 to 24:00) (GP74).

A special visit is initiated by or for the patient for a non-elective service. Only one travel premium is payable per trip, however many patients you see, and not for travel within the same hospital complex or campus (GP65, GP66).

Billing rules

• Only for an Emergency Department Physician as defined on GP67: scheduled to work in the ED that day but asked to come in at an unscheduled time while away from the hospital, or on scheduled ED call and away from the hospital when called (GP67).
• One travel premium per trip, regardless of the number of patients seen (GP66).
• Maximum 4 travel premiums per time period; extra premiums are not paid (GP67, GP74).
• Bill the A-prefix assessment from the General Listings with the premium. Premiums are not payable with H-prefix ED codes; if you were already at the hospital when asked, bill H-codes instead (GP65, GP68, GP69).
• Chart the time of the ED's request to attend and the specific situation that required you (GP69).
• ED physicians can't bill the Table I emergency department premiums (K960–K999); those are for physicians not on ED duty (GP67).

Often billed with

• H988 first person seen premium for the first patient (GP74).
• H989 for each additional patient seen in the ED on that trip (GP66, GP74).
• The A-prefix General Listings assessment for each patient (GP69).

Common rejections

• AD9: Premium not allowed alone: the special visit premium must be billed with the A-prefix service it accompanies (GP65, GP69).

Related codes: H988, H989, H960, H962, H964, K960

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), General Preamble, Special Visit Premiums (Table V – Emergency Department by Emergency Department Physician), page GP74; rules GP65–GP69.

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