< Diagnostic codes

Diagnostic code

496 — Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

496 is an OHIP diagnostic code used on Ontario Health Insurance Plan claims. Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Code
496
Description
Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Updated October 26, 2026

496 is the OHIP diagnostic code for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) when it isn't recorded as chronic bronchitis or emphysema.

Conditions billed under this code

  • COPD

What it covers

The Ministry lists 496 as 'Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease' in the Diseases of the Respiratory System chapter.

Use it for COPD in general. Chronic bronchitis (491), emphysema (492) and asthma (493) have their own codes.

Close neighbours: 494 bronchiectasis, 515 pulmonary fibrosis, 466 acute bronchitis, 786 shortness of breath not yet diagnosed.

Billing notes

  • COPD is one of six diseases eligible for chronic disease shared appointments, K140 to K144 (A22).
  • 496 is not on the GP26 list for E078, the chronic disease assessment premium (+50%) that specialists in the listed specialties add to an office or out-patient clinic assessment; 491 chronic bronchitis, 492 emphysema and 493 asthma are (GP26).

Related codes: 491, 492, 493, 494, 515

Sources

APEX flags claims whose diagnostic code does not fit the service billed before they come back rejected. See how APEX works · Pricing