1What Is the C710 OHIP Code?
C710 refers to the Comprehensive Critical Care Medicine Consultation for in-patient services under OHIP in Ontario, designed for critical care specialists to perform detailed evaluations of hospital inpatients. This code is applicable when a critical care specialist is consulted for the thorough assessment of a hospitalized patient whose condition is deteriorating, requiring expertise in evaluating goals of care and organ support needs.
This intensive consultation demands at least 75 minutes of direct patient contact, aimed at those complexities in care that necessitate a comprehensive review and possible collaboration with other medical experts. Because of its in-depth nature and the time commitment involved, C710 is often underutilized despite its vital role in ensuring thorough patient evaluations in critical settings.
2Related Codes
| Code | Name | Frequency | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A116 | Repeat consultation | As applicable for repeat consultations. | Covers repeat consultations in critical care medicine. |
| A710 | Comprehensive critical care medicine consultation | Same as C710 but in outpatient settings. | Equivalent code for services rendered outside hospital in-patient settings. |
| A715 | Consultation | As per individual consultation needs. | Regular consultation in the critical care medicine category. |
| A915 | Limited consultation | As needed for limited consultations. | Covers limited consultations within critical care. |
3Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility Requirements for C710
- Specialist Requirement: Must be provided by a specialist in critical care medicine.
- Setting: Applies to non-emergency hospital in-patient services.
- Time Requirement: The specialist must spend a minimum of 75 minutes in direct contact with the patient.
- Frequency Limits:
- For the same patient, same physician, same diagnosis, C710 is payable once per two consecutive 12-month periods.
- Exceptions allow for two services within the same period if the second consultation occurs in a hospital inpatient setting or an Emergency Department more than 12 but less than 24 months after the first.
- With a clearly defined unrelated diagnosis, one service is allowable every 12 months.
- Virtual Delivery: Eligible for virtual delivery via video only, coded as C710A. Phone consultations do not qualify as comprehensive virtual care services.
These conditions ensure the consultation's billing aligns with OHIP's guidelines for comprehensive and critically necessary patient care.
4What Your Clinical Note Must Show
To be eligible for billing C710, the following documentation must be maintained:
- Record the start and stop times of the consultation in the patient's permanent medical record.
- Include a copy of the written consultation request, identifying both the referring and consulting physicians, their billing numbers, and detailed patient information.
- Maintain a written report containing findings, recommendations, and any advice given.
5Weak vs. Strong Note Examples
The strong note succeeds because it clearly specifies the time spent, details the assessment and recommendations, and references the documented report, fulfilling OHIP billing requirements. The weak note lacks essential specifics such as time spent and detailed findings.
Consultation completed, provided medical advice.
Spent necessary time with the patient.
Conducted a comprehensive critical care consultation at the request of Dr. Smith. Patient presented with acute respiratory distress requiring immediate assessment.
- 75 minutes of face-to-face consultation, from 14:00 to 15:15.
- Discussed potential need for mechanical ventilation and initiated treatment protocols.
- Documented findings and recommendations in a detailed report submitted to Dr. Smith.
