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Billing code

K191A — Family psychiatric care – in-patient

In-patient family psychiatric care

Bill K191 per half-hour unit for psychiatric care of a hospital in-patient with family members or outside caregivers present.

Watch for: Time must be consecutive with start and stop times charted; A191, A192, A197 and A198 aren't payable that day.

Code

K191A

Description

Family psychiatric care – in-patient

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

Psychiatric care of a hospital in-patient with family members or outside caregivers present, per half-hour unit.

What it covers

Psychiatric care is any combination of assessment and treatment for mental illness, behavioural maladaptations or emotional problems, considering the patient's biological and psychosocial functioning. Family psychiatric care is done in the presence of one or more family members, or professional caregivers not on staff where the patient is being cared for (GP56).

K191 is the in-patient version; out-patient is K196 (A190).

Billing rules

• Billed in ½-hour units: 1 unit = at least 20 minutes, 2 = 46, 3 = 76, 4 = 106, then every 30 minutes more; count only direct contact time, excluding other separately billed services (GP54–GP55).
• Time must be consecutive (only in-patient individual psychotherapy and in-patient individual psychiatric care may add up non-consecutive time) (GP55).
• Record start and stop times in the chart, or the service is not payable (GP7).
• Claim against the patient's health number and diagnosis (A190).
• A191, A192, A197 and A198 are not payable for the same patient on the same day as K191, K193, K195 or K196 (A184).
• Not on the Appendix J virtual care list (Appendix J).

Related codes: K196, K199, K198, K193, K195

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

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