How do I fix OHIP error code CNA?

List every service you billed for this patient on that day. If the visit was really an assessment with advice, bill the assessment only. If it was a separate, pre-booked counselling visit, bill counselling and keep only same-day services the Schedule allows with it. 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 CNA claim?

The advice was part of another service you billed that day.

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Error code

CNA — Counselling Not Allowed

Q: What does OHIP error code CNA mean?

CNA means counselling was billed with another service that can't be paid with it the same day, or didn't meet counselling rules. Review and resubmit.

Counselling not allowed

Counselling was billed with a same-day service it can't be paid with, or the visit didn't meet the counselling rules.

What to do: If the visit was really an assessment with advice, bill the assessment only and resubmit.

Code: CNA
Description: Counselling Not Allowed

Explanation

Updated October 26, 2026

CNA means counselling was billed with another service that can't be paid with it the same day, or didn't meet counselling rules. Review and resubmit.

What it means

CNA means OHIP rejected a counselling claim. The Ministry's description is just 'Counselling Not Allowed'.

Counselling is a visit dedicated solely to educational dialogue with the physician. Advice that is normally part of a consultation, assessment or other treatment isn't counselling. When the same physician bills counselling, only a short list of other services is payable that day (for example some injections, immunizations, venipuncture, cervical screening and interviews). Counselling must also be pre-booked, or it is paid as a lesser assessment (GP58).

Common causes

Counselling and an assessment billed by the same physician on the same day
Counselling billed for advice given during another visit
Counselling billed with a service not on the same-day list

How to fix it

List every service you billed for this patient on that day.
If the visit was really an assessment with advice, bill the assessment only.
If it was a separate, pre-booked counselling visit, bill counselling and keep only same-day services the Schedule allows with it.
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

The advice was part of another service you billed that day.

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: AD3, ADH