< Billing codes

Billing code

K189A

Urgent post-discharge psychiatric consult

Add K189 to A190, A195, A192, A198, A695 or A795 for an urgent out-patient consultation within 4 weeks after psychiatric discharge.

Watch for: Maximum one per patient per 12 months, not with K188 that day, and by video only if virtual.

Code

K189A

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

Add-on for an urgent out-patient psychiatric consultation within 4 weeks after a psychiatric hospital discharge.

What it covers

K189 is added to A190, A195, A192, A198, A695 or A795 when a psychiatrist sees an out-patient urgently in the 4 weeks right after discharge from a hospital stay for a psychiatric condition (A188).

The psychiatrist must not have cared for the patient during that admission and must continue appropriate care for at least 6 months as required (A188).

Billing rules

• Only with A190, A195, A192, A198, A695 or A795 (A188).
• Maximum one per physician per patient per 12 months (A188).
• K188 is not payable with K189 for the same patient on the same day (A188).
• Payable on a virtual service by video only (A74).

Often billed with

• A195 consultation or A190 special psychiatric consultation (A188).

Common rejections

• AD9: OHIP describes this as 'Premium not allowed alone': K189 is paid only with A190, A195, A192, A198, A695 or A795 (A188).
• ADH: OHIP describes this as 'Cannot be billed together': K188 and K189 were billed for the same patient on the same day (A188).

Related codes: K187, K188, A195, A190, A192, A198

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Consultations and Visits, Psychiatry (19), page A188.

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