How do I fix OHIP error code SW?

Check the service date and whether the patient was receiving per diem critical care from another physician that day. If so, the reduced payment is expected and there is nothing to fix. If the patient had already left the intensive care area, or the per diem should not have applied (for example the patient was in the unit only for monitoring, J30 note H), gather the transfer details and your notes. If you believe the payment is wrong, send a Remittance Advice Inquiry (RAI) through eSubmit, or on form 0918-84, within 7 months of the RA date, with supporting details.

When shouldn't I resubmit a SW claim?

The claim is already on the RA. Use an RAI, not a new claim, if you disagree with the payment.

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Error code

SW — ICU per diem paid to another physician - MRP visit paid as subsequent visit

Q: What does OHIP error code SW mean?

Another physician was paid an ICU per diem for this patient, so your MRP visit was paid at the ordinary subsequent visit fee.

Paid as subsequent visit

Another physician was paid an ICU per diem for this patient, so your most responsible physician visit was paid at the subsequent visit fee.

What to do: Check whether another physician billed a per diem for the patient that day; if so, nothing to fix.

Code: SW
Description: ICU per diem paid to another physician - MRP visit paid as subsequent visit

Explanation

Updated October 26, 2026

Another physician was paid an ICU per diem for this patient, so your MRP visit was paid at the ordinary subsequent visit fee.

What it means

The Ministry's wording for SW is that an Intensive Care Unit per diem code was paid to another physician, so the Most Responsible Physician (MRP) visit was reduced to a subsequent visit. The visit was paid, but at the lower subsequent visit rate instead of the MRP visit rate.

MRP visit codes such as C122, C123, C124, C126, C142 and C143 are only payable to the patient's MRP (GP44–GP46). Critical care, ventilatory support, comprehensive care and neonatal intensive care per diems (for example G400–G402, G405–G407, G557–G559) are team fees for the physicians in charge of the patient in the intensive care area (J30–J33). When OHIP's records show another physician holding that per diem, your visit is not treated as an MRP visit.

Common causes

You billed an MRP visit code while the patient was in an intensive care area under another physician's critical care, ventilatory or comprehensive care per diem
The visit was on or near the day of transfer out of the intensive care area, and the per diem claim covers that day
The service date on your claim or the other physician's claim is wrong

How to fix it

Check the service date and whether the patient was receiving per diem critical care from another physician that day.
If so, the reduced payment is expected and there is nothing to fix.
If the patient had already left the intensive care area, or the per diem should not have applied (for example the patient was in the unit only for monitoring, J30 note H), gather the transfer details and your notes.
If you believe the payment is wrong, send a Remittance Advice Inquiry (RAI) through eSubmit, or on form 0918-84, within 7 months of the RA date, with supporting details.

Don't resubmit if

The claim is already on the RA. Use an RAI, not a new claim, if you disagree with the payment.

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: SX, SV, AO3