How do I fix OHIP error code ARF?

Find the written referral in the chart and take the referring provider's billing number from it. Enter the number on the claim. If there was no written referral, bill the assessment code that matches the service instead of a consultation. Resubmit the corrected claim within three months of the service date if you can. If that window has passed but the claim was first submitted on time, use the Ministry's stale-dated resubmission process: one stale-dated claim file through MCEDT, then an email to ClaimsManagement@ontario.ca with the Error Reports showing the original submission date.

When shouldn't I resubmit a ARF claim?

There was no written referral before the service. Ask for a consultation only if the referral existed at the time.

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Error code

ARF — Missing Physician Referring Number

Q: What does OHIP error code ARF mean?

ARF means the claim needs a referring physician number and none was given. Add the referrer's billing number and resubmit.

Referring number missing

The claim needs the referring physician's number, such as for a consultation, and none was given.

What to do: Take the referrer's billing number from the written referral and resubmit; with no referral, bill an assessment instead.

Code: ARF
Description: Missing Physician Referring Number

Explanation

Updated October 26, 2026

ARF means the claim needs a referring physician number and none was given. Add the referrer's billing number and resubmit.

What it means

ARF means the claim was rejected because the referring physician number is missing. Services that depend on a referral, such as consultations, need the referring provider's number on the claim.

A consultation needs a written, signed request that names the referring physician, nurse practitioner or dental surgeon by name and billing number, and the request must be kept in the consultant's chart. If the request is missing, the consultation is paid only as a lesser assessment, and a request obtained after the service doesn't count (GP16).

Common causes

The referring number field was left blank
A referral was received but the number wasn't entered
A consultation code was billed for a patient who wasn't referred

How to fix it

Find the written referral in the chart and take the referring provider's billing number from it.
Enter the number on the claim.
If there was no written referral, bill the assessment code that matches the service instead of a consultation.
Resubmit the corrected claim within three months of the service date if you can. If that window has passed but the claim was first submitted on time, use the Ministry's stale-dated resubmission process: one stale-dated claim file through MCEDT, then an email to [email protected] with the Error Reports showing the original submission date.

Don't resubmit if

There was no written referral before the service. Ask for a consultation only if the referral existed at the time.

How APEX handles it

APEX reads your error reports and remittance advice from MCEDT and lists claims rejected with this code in its Correction Centre for you to correct and resubmit. See how APEX works · Pricing

Related codes: ARP, AC4, V09, EQ6, ERF