How do I fix OHIP error code PAA?

Check the patient's billing history for an E079 paid to you in the 365 days before the follow-up's service date. If your E079 was billed but rejected, correct and resubmit that claim first. Once it is paid, resubmit the K039 or Q042A unchanged. If no initial discussion was billed but one took place at this visit, bill the visit as the initial discussion instead: E079 added to the visit (for example A007), not K039. The chart must document it on a Clinical Tobacco Intervention (CTI) flow sheet or in a note consistent with the CTI 5A's model (A56). Resubmit the corrected claim within three months of the service date. 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 PAA claim?

No E079 has been paid to you for this patient in the 365 days before the visit. The same claim will reject again. The discussion was about cannabis or vaping, including vaping tobacco. E079 and K039 don't cover those (A56). The chart doesn't document the smoking cessation discussion. Without it the service isn't eligible for payment (A56).

< Error codes

Error code

PAA — Smoking cessation initial fee (E079) not paid in prior 365 days

Q: What does OHIP error code PAA mean?

PAA means OHIP found no E079 smoking cessation initial discussion paid in the 365 days before this K039 or Q042A, so it rejected the claim.

No E079 paid first

OHIP found no E079 smoking cessation initial discussion paid to you in the 365 days before this K039 or Q042A.

What to do: Check the patient's history for E079; if it was rejected, get it paid first, then resubmit this claim unchanged.

Code: PAA
Description: Smoking cessation initial fee (E079) not paid in prior 365 days

Explanation

Updated October 26, 2026

PAA means OHIP found no E079 smoking cessation initial discussion paid in the 365 days before this K039 or Q042A, so it rejected the claim.

What it means

PAA is an Error Report rejection. The Ministry's wording is 'No Initial Fee Previously Paid'. OHIP checks that the smoking cessation initial discussion fee (E079) was paid within 365 days before the smoking cessation follow-up visit (K039) or the smoking cessation counselling fee (Q042).

E079 ($15.95) is added to a visit, such as an A007 intermediate assessment, for the first discussion about quitting tobacco, once per patient per 12 months. K039 ($39.25) is the follow-up visit. It is only payable when E079 was payable to the same physician in the preceding 12 months, and up to 2 K039 are payable in the 12 months after E079 (A56).

Q042A ($7.70, AQ2) is a counselling fee for enrolled patients in FHO and other listed models, up to 2 a year. The OMA Q-code guide says it needs a valid E079A billed earlier and a K039 in the 12 months after that E079.

Common causes

E079 was never billed for the patient
E079 was billed but rejected, so it was never paid
The E079 was more than 365 days before the follow-up visit
E079 was billed by a different physician. K039 needs E079 payable to the same physician (A56).

How to fix it

Check the patient's billing history for an E079 paid to you in the 365 days before the follow-up's service date.
If your E079 was billed but rejected, correct and resubmit that claim first. Once it is paid, resubmit the K039 or Q042A unchanged.
If no initial discussion was billed but one took place at this visit, bill the visit as the initial discussion instead: E079 added to the visit (for example A007), not K039. The chart must document it on a Clinical Tobacco Intervention (CTI) flow sheet or in a note consistent with the CTI 5A's model (A56).
Resubmit the corrected claim within three months of the service date. 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

No E079 has been paid to you for this patient in the 365 days before the visit. The same claim will reject again.
The discussion was about cannabis or vaping, including vaping tobacco. E079 and K039 don't cover those (A56).
The chart doesn't document the smoking cessation discussion. Without it the service isn't eligible for payment (A56).

How APEX handles it

APEX lists PAA claims in the Correction Centre. For some family practice claims it drafts a corrected claim: check the drafted codes against the chart before you approve it. If you've turned on auto-fix, drafted corrections are sent without waiting for you. Other PAA claims are listed under Outstanding for your input. See how APEX works · Pricing

Related codes: M1, EPC, AT3