1What Is the C682 OHIP Code?
What is the C682 Billing Code?
C682 is an Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) billing code for an extended special neurology consultation. It applies specifically to in-patient settings where a neurologist provides a comprehensive consultation for complex cases, such as status epilepticus, stroke with unclear mechanisms, or rapidly progressive cognitive decline. These situations often require intensive bedside evaluations, including thorough history taking from family and hospital records.
Neurologists might overlook using C682 if they confuse it with the office-based equivalent, A682, or misidentify the service setting. Remember, C682 is exclusively for admitted hospital in-patients.
2Related Codes
| Code | Name | Frequency | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A180 | Special neurology consultation | As needed | Consultation for neurological issues not requiring extended in-patient evaluations. |
| A185 | Consultation | As needed | General consultation across various neurological conditions. |
| A186 | Repeat consultation | As needed | Follow-up consultation for ongoing management of neurological conditions. |
| A385 | Limited consultation | As needed | Brief consultation or assessment for straightforward neurological issues. |
3Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility Requirements for Billing C682
To bill code C682, the consultation must meet specific criteria:
- Patient Setting: The patient must be a hospital in-patient at the time of consultation.
- Consultation Frequency:
- Same patient, same physician, same diagnosis: One service every two consecutive 12-month periods.
- Exceptions allow for a second service more than 12 but less than 24 months after the first if conducted in a hospital or ER setting.
- Unrelated diagnosis: One service every 12 months.
- Additional services beyond the limits are compensated at general assessment rates.
- Virtual Care: Only eligible for video consultations, not by telephone.
- Additional Notes: C682 can be claimed only 6 months after the last periodic health visit under specific legal frameworks such as the Nursing Homes Act.
4What Your Clinical Note Must Show
Document detailed history including symptoms, previous treatments, and family reports.
Include all relevant examination results necessary for a thorough evaluation.
Indicate the time spent on patient evaluation and confirm the in-patient setting.
5Weak vs. Strong Note Examples
The strong note succeeds by clearly detailing the reason for extensive evaluation and incorporating crucial history information, whereas the weak note lacks specificity and doesn’t demonstrate the need for extended consultation.
Patient seen for seizure evaluation. Discussed with family. Conducted neurological examination.
Patient presented with status epilepticus. Extensive history obtained from family regarding seizure history and recent events leading to hospitalization. Comprehensive neurological exam conducted.
- Diagnosis requiring detailed history taking due to unclear onset details.
- Critical decisions dependent on collateral information from family.
