Guide
Virtual Visit Tariffs
Doctors Manitoba and Manitoba Health have agreed to introduce virtual visit tariffs during the pandemic, for use by all fee-for-service physicians. Virtual visit tariffs apply to patient encounters conducted via phone or video.
The following virtual visit tariffs can be used regardless of modality (phone or video). All tariffs will remain available during the pandemic response until Manitoba Health communicates they are no longer available
| Tariff | Virtual Visit Description | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|
| 8321 | Virtual Visit paid equivalent to bloc’s regional history or exam rate | March 14 |
| 8535 | Consultation, paid equivalent to blocs’ 8550, 8553, 8556, 8516, 8617 or 8557 | April 24 |
| 8527 | Chronic care, paid equivalent to 8511 (e.g. PCH residents) | April 1 |
| 8655 | Psychotherapy performed by a non-psychiatrist, paid at equivalent to 8580 | April 24 |
| 8533 | Psychotherapy performed by a psychiatrist, paid at equivalent to 8581 | March 14 |
| 8786 | Psychiatric care, paid at equivalent to 8584 | April 24 |
| 8521 | Consultation performed by a psychiatrist involving a child (=70) patient, paid at a rate equal to 8554 or 8622 | April 24 |
| 8442 | Comprehensive virtual assessment by general practitioner paid equivalent to complete visit tariffs 8540, 8424 or 8500 | Nov 1 |
| 8447 | Comprehensive virtual assessment by specialist paid equivalent to complete visit tariff 8540, 8503, 8504, 8543, or 8544 for the bloc of practice. | Nov 1 |
| 8284 | Virtual visit with patient aged 65 – 69 years by general practitioner paid equivalent to 8425 | Nov 1 |
| 8285 | Virtual visit with patient aged 70 years and over by general practitioner paid equivalent to 8513 | Nov 1 |
A full rate table is available for review.
The following common rules guide the use of all virtual visit tariffs:
- You may continue to bill for services provided by a Resident under your supervision in accordance with past practice.
- Services must be provided personally by the physician. No claim may be made for a virtual visit in which only a physician proxy participates, such as a nurse or clerk.
- After Hours Premiums may not be claimed in addition, except for urgent or emergent communications.
- Start and Stop times must be documented in the patient’s chart and included on the claim.
- Rural/Northern/Brandon Fee differentials apply.
- Both the patient and the physician must be in Manitoba for the virtual visit. Exceptions have been approved by Manitoba Health for patients residing in Nunavut, Saskatchewan and Northwestern Ontario.
| DO | DON’T |
|---|---|
| DO conduct the visit yourself. Virtual visits by non-physicians are not covered. Where a Physician Assistant carries out part of the visit the physician must also see/speak with the patient. | DON’T use the new tariff for phone advice you would normally have provided following an in-person visit, such as sharing normal test results. |
| DO continue to provide PCH care in person, unless you are ill or required to self-isolate. You can continue to use tariff 8000 for calls from PCH staff. | DON’T invite patients to call for routine questions about COVID-19 and then claim a virtual visit. These are best directed to provincial online resources or Health Links. |
| DO claim interpretations of any diagnostic tests (e.g., Audiograms, EKG, EEGs…) that are usually billed in addition to visits under the applicable tariff in addition | DON’T claim a virtual visit on the same day as an in-person visit |
| DO include start and stop times in your documentation. | DON’T claim office/home visit tariffs for services provided virtually. |
| DO claim rural and northern premiums if both you and your patient are outside of Winnipeg | DON’T claim after hours premiums unless the service is urgent/emergent nature. |
If you have questions about virtual care and the new tariffs, please contact Roger Jamieson, Ian Foster or Braden Kalichuk at covid19@doctorsmanitoba.ca.
Last updated
April 23, 2021