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Billing code

K736A — Criticall Telephone Consultation - Referring Physician (physician On Duty In An Emergency Department Or A Hospital Urgent Care Clinic)

ED CritiCall consult, referring

Bill K736 when, on duty in an ED or urgent care clinic, you get a consultant's phone opinion through a call arranged by CritiCall Ontario.

Watch for: Maximum 2 of K732 or K736 combined per patient per day, and CritiCall must arrange the call.

Code

K736A

Description

Criticall Telephone Consultation - Referring Physician (physician On Duty In An Emergency Department Or A Hospital Urgent Care Clinic)

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

CritiCall Ontario telephone consultation, billed by the referring physician who is on duty in an ED or hospital urgent care clinic.

What it covers

A CritiCall telephone consultation is one where the referring physician or NP asks a consultant for an opinion by phone and the call is arranged by CritiCall Ontario. The referring service includes sending relevant data and everything done to get the consultant's advice (A45).

Referring physicians on duty in an ED or Hospital Urgent Care Clinic bill K736; K732 is not claimed in these circumstances (A45).

Billing rules

• The call must be arranged by CritiCall Ontario, and the referring physician and patient must be in Ontario at the time (A45, A46).
• Maximum 2 of K732 or K736 (any combination) per patient per day (A45).
• Payable in addition to visits or other services you provide the same patient that day (A45).
• Not payable if you are paid other than by fee-for-service for taking part in the call (A46).
• Chart: that CritiCall arranged it, patient name and health number, referring and consultant physicians, reason, and the consultant's opinion and recommendations (A46).
• The General Preamble consultation rules don't apply to CritiCall consultations (A45).

Often billed with

• The ED assessment for the same patient, e.g. H102 or H103 (A45).

Common rejections

• AM1: Service limit exceeded: more than 2 K732/K736 referring services for the patient that day (A45).

Related codes: K737, K732, K733, E150, K734, K735

Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Consultations and Visits, Family Practice & Practice in General (00), page A45; rules A45–A46.

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