Billing code
K199A — Psychiatric Care - In-patient - Per Unit
In-patient psychiatric care
Bill K199 per half-hour unit for a psychiatrist's individual care of a hospital in-patient; time may be non-consecutive.
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.
| Provider | Specialist | Assistant | Anaesthetist | Non-anaesthetist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0.00 | $118.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
- Code
- K199A
- Description
- Psychiatric Care - In-patient - 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 psychiatric care for a hospital in-patient, billed per half-hour unit.
What it covers
K199 is psychiatric care for an in-patient, per unit (A190). Psychiatric care is any combination of assessment and treatment of mental illness, behavioural maladaptations or other problems assumed to be emotional, considering the patient's biological and psychosocial functioning (GP56).
It includes the inquiries needed to form an opinion, any procedures not separately listed, arranging follow-up, and advice to the patient or representative (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).
- For in-patient individual psychiatric care 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).
- Psychiatric care the same day as a consultation or other assessment by the same physician is not paid unless the diagnoses are clearly different (GP55).
- A subsequent visit by the same psychiatrist the same day is not paid (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 K198 is), so it can't be billed as a virtual visit (AJ1).
Related codes: K198, K191, K196, K190, K197, C192
Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Consultations and Visits, Psychiatry (19), page A190. Rules GP54–GP56.
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