How do I fix OHIP error code ARP?

Check the chart for a written referral that names the referring provider and their billing number. Enter that number on the claim. If the patient wasn't referred, bill the assessment code that matches the service instead. 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 ARP claim?

There was no referral at the time of the service.

< Error codes

Error code

ARP — Referring Physician Number Required

Q: What does OHIP error code ARP mean?

ARP means this fee code requires a referring physician number on the claim. Add the referrer's billing number, or bill a non-referral code.

Referral number required

This fee code can only be paid with a referring physician number, and the claim didn't have a usable one.

What to do: Enter the billing number from the written referral, or bill the matching assessment code if the patient wasn't referred.

Code: ARP
Description: Referring Physician Number Required

Explanation

Updated October 26, 2026

ARP means this fee code requires a referring physician number on the claim. Add the referrer's billing number, or bill a non-referral code.

What it means

ARP means the claim was rejected because the fee code billed can only be paid with a referring physician number, and the claim didn't have a usable one.

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 consultation code was billed for a self-referred or walk-in patient
The number entered wasn't the referring provider's billing number

How to fix it

Check the chart for a written referral that names the referring provider and their billing number.
Enter that number on the claim.
If the patient wasn't referred, bill the assessment code that matches the service instead.
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 referral at the time of the service.

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: ARF, AC4, V09, EQ6, ERF