Billing changes: COVID-19

For the 2023-2024 respiratory illness season, the following fee codes have been made permanent and are billable by any physician. Questions? Email View Email Addresseconomics@doctorsofbc.ca. 

What's on this page:

• Assessment for COVID-19 therapeutics

• Fee codes for COVID-19 immunizations

• Temporary code for physicians on the LFP Payment Model

• Billing Changes FAQ 

Assessment for COVID-19 therapeutics

This fee is billable by any family physician or specialist.

10046: Assessment for COVID-19 Therapeutics: This fee is payable for patient care related to COVID-19 treatment, including patient assessment, prescribing of COVID-19 therapeutics, completion of relevant documentation and forms, and arranging for treatment. May be provided either in-person and/or by telehealth – per 15 minutes or greater portion thereof ……………$43.50

Notes:
i) Payable to a maximum of 60 minutes (4 units) per patient/per day.
ii) Start and end times of the assessment must be entered both the billing claim and the patient’s chart.
iii) Payable in addition to any visit or consult fee on the same day if medically required, provided the visit does not take place during a time interval that overlaps. Start and end times of the visit must be entered in the billing claim and the patient’s chart.
iv) Other services such as patient management and conference fees are payable in addition on the same day by the same physician, provided it does not take place during a time interval that overlaps. Start and end times of the other service must be entered in the billing claim and the patient’s chart.

Respiratory Immunization Fee Codes

Effective October 1, 2023

10040: Respiratory immunization for patients 19 years of age or older (with visit) .......... $5.82
Notes:
i) Payable for influenza (using ICD-9 code V048), pneumococcal (using ICD-9 code V05), pertussis (using ICD-9 code V036), and COVID-19 (using ICD-9 code C19) immunizations.
ii) Payable in full with an office visit.
iii) If the primary purpose of the service is for immunization, bill fee item 10041.

B10041: Respiratory immunization for patients 19 years of age or older (without visit).......... $14.00
Notes:
i) Payable for influenza (using ICD-9 code V048), pneumococcal (using ICD-9 code V05), pertussis (using ICD-9 code V036), and COVID-19 (using ICD-9 code C19) immunizations when the primary purpose of the service is for immunization.
ii) Not payable with an office visit.

Immunization for Patients 18 Years of Age or Younger

10047: Pediatric COVID-19 immunization .......... $5.82
Notes:
i) Payable for COVID-19 immunization (ICD-9 code C19 must be entered on claim).
ii) Payable in full with an office visit.
iii) Not payable on the same day with B00010, B00034.

Temporary code for physicians on the LFP Payment Model

For services provided from October 1, 2023, physicians can bill for influenza, pneumococcal, pertussis, and COVID-19 immunizations provided by allied care providers using the temporary code 98101 “LFP Respiratory Immunization Provided by an Allied Care Provider.” In order to bill this code, the allied care provider must be paid out of practice earnings to work directly within the practice team with no cost recovery either directly or indirectly from a third party (eg. Health Authority, Division of Family Practice, Ministry of Health).

Detailed information is available on the BC Family Doctors website (member login required). 

The Simplified LFP Guide and LFP Billing Question Library have also been updated with additional information. Information is also available on the government website.