OHIP billing code for telephone consultation

Updated October 26, 2026

For a physician-to-physician telephone consultation, the referring physician bills K730A ($37.05) and the consultant bills K731A ($47.75). It needs at least 10 minutes of discussion about the patient. Physicians on duty in an emergency department use K734A/K735A, and CritiCall-arranged calls use K732A/K733A.

Code	What it is	Fee	When to bill it
K730A	Telephone consultation, referring physician	$37.05	You ask another physician for an opinion by phone and keep caring for the patient.
K731A	Telephone consultation, consultant	$47.75	You give the opinion. The claim needs the referring physician's provider number.
K734A	Telephone consultation, referring physician in the ED	$37.05	Instead of K730A when you're on duty in an emergency department or hospital urgent care clinic.
K732A	CritiCall telephone consultation, referring physician	$37.05	The call was arranged by CritiCall Ontario, including calls about transferring the patient.
K738A	E-consultation, referring physician	$16.45	The request and reply go through a secure electronic system instead of a phone call.

How to bill it

Use K730A when you know the patient, ask another physician by phone for an opinion because the case is complex, serious or obscure, and intend to keep managing the patient (A42). The consultant bills K731A with your provider number on the claim (A44).

The discussion must last at least 10 minutes. You can add up several calls with the same physicians about the same patient on the same day (A43, A44).

Chart the patient's name and health number, start and stop times, both physicians' names, the reason for the call, and the consultant's opinion and recommendations. Without them the service isn't payable (A44).

Your visit with the patient the same day is payable in addition to K730A (A42).

Billing rules

Maximum one K730 or K734, and one K731 or K735, per patient per day (A43).
Not payable to either physician if the call is to arrange a transfer of care, or to arrange a consultation, visit, K-prefix time-based service, procedure or test; if it is mainly to discuss test results; or if the consultant sees the patient the same day or the next day (A43).
Both physicians must be physically in Ontario (A43).
On duty in an ED or hospital urgent care clinic, bill K734/K735 instead of K730/K731 (A43).
CritiCall calls (K732/K733) must be arranged by CritiCall Ontario and may be about transferring the patient. Maximum 2 K732 or K736 per patient per day (A45).
E-consultations (K738/K739) need a reply within 30 days; maximum 1 per patient per day, 6 per patient per 12 months and 400 per physician per 12 months (A48).
Not payable if you're paid other than fee-for-service for the call (A43, A44).
FHO: K730, K731, K732 and K733 are in-basket core services (Agreement Schedule 2, p.79).

Common rejections

EQ6: OHIP's description is 'referring provider number not registered with the Ministry'. K730 doesn't need a referring number; only the consultant's K731 does (A44). Check or remove the number.

Questions

What is the OHIP billing code for telephone consultation?

Can I bill a telephone consultation to arrange a referral?

No. A call made to arrange a consultation, visit, procedure, test or transfer of care isn't payable to either physician (A43). Use CritiCall (K732/K733) for calls about transfer.

Can the specialist see the patient the next day?

If the consultant sees the patient for a consultation, assessment, visit or K-prefix time-based service the same day or the next day, neither physician is paid for the telephone consultation (A43).

Is a phone call with my patient a telephone consultation?

No. K730 is for a call between physicians. A phone visit with your patient is comprehensive virtual care (visit code + K301A) or limited virtual care (A102A).

Sources

All OHIP billing codes by service · See how APEX works · Pricing