Billing code
W038A — General surgery nursing home subsequent visit – additional visits
Extra nursing home surgical visits
Bill for a general surgeon's routine nursing home or home for the aged visits after the first 2 (W033) in the month.
Watch for: Maximum 3 per patient per month; bill acute intercurrent illness visits as W121 instead.
| Provider | Specialist | Assistant | Anaesthetist | Non-anaesthetist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0.00 | $40.05 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
- Code
- W038A
- Description
- General surgery nursing home subsequent visit – additional visits
- 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
Additional routine visits by a general surgeon to a nursing home or home for the aged resident after the first 2 in a month, up to 3 per month.
What it covers
W038 is subsequent visits per month (maximum of 3 per patient per month) in a nursing home or home for the aged, General Surgery (03) listings (A108). The first 2 visits each month are W033 (A108).
Billing rules
- Maximum of 3 per patient per month (A108).
- Visits for an acute intercurrent illness are billed as W121 whenever rendered, regardless of the monthly limits (GP49).
- Special visit premiums do not apply to elective visits in long-term care (GP66).
- W-prefix services apply to chronic care and convalescent hospitals, nursing homes, homes for the aged, and chronic or convalescent beds, but not designated palliative care beds (GP49, A108).
- For emergency calls and other special visits, use the General Listings (A-prefix) with the Table IV special visit premiums (A108, GP73).
Related codes: W033, W121, W972, W031, W036
Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Consultations and Visits, General Surgery (03), page A108.
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