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Billing code

K190A — Individual In-patient Psychotherapy - Per Unit

In-patient individual psychotherapy

Bill K190 per half-hour unit for individual psychotherapy with a hospital in-patient.

Watch for: Record start and stop times; a second visit by the same psychiatrist that day isn't paid, and it can't be virtual.

Code

K190A

Description

Individual In-patient Psychotherapy - 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

Individual psychotherapy for a hospital in-patient, billed per half-hour unit.

What it covers

K190 is individual in-patient psychotherapy, per unit (A190). Psychotherapy is treatment of mental illness, behavioural maladaptations or other emotional problems in which the physician deliberately builds a professional relationship to remove, modify or slow symptoms, reverse disturbed behaviour patterns and promote positive growth (GP56).

Psychotherapy includes narcoanalysis, psychoanalysis and treatment of sexual dysfunction (A24, GP54).

Billing rules

• Units are ½ hour or major part: 1 unit = at least 20 minutes, 2 = 46, 3 = 76, 4 = 106, then every 30 minutes more (GP55).
• When a psychiatrist provides in-patient individual psychotherapy, the time may be consecutive or non-consecutive (GP55).
• Count only time in direct contact with the patient, excluding other separately billable services and non-patient-facing work (GP54, GP55).
• Record start and stop times in the chart, or the service is not eligible for payment (GP7).
• A subsequent visit by the same psychiatrist to the same patient the same day is not paid (GP56).
• Not payable the same day as an obstetrical delivery by the same physician (GP56).
• When a medical trainee provides the service, at most 2 time units are payable for an individual patient (GP82).
• Not on the Appendix J virtual care lists (the out-patient code K197 is), so it can't be billed as a virtual visit (AJ1).

Related codes: K197, K193, K195, K199, K210, K202

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Consultations and Visits, Psychiatry (19), page A190. Rules GP54–GP56.

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