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Guide

Virtual Visit Tariffs

Physicians have increasingly incorporated telephone and video visits into delivering medical care, supporting improved access for patients while maintaining continuity of care. 

When offering virtual visits in their practice, physicians must ensure they meet regulatory standards from CPSM and tariff requirements outlined in Manitoba Health’s Physician’s Manual. This article summarizes these requirements, but physicians should carefully consider how standards and billing requirements apply to their practice. 

Both CPSM and Manitoba Health require both the physician and patient to be located in Manitoba for virtual visits, with few exceptions. Patients should be able to decide between virtual or in-person visits, and physicians must ​“have the ability themselves to provide a timely physical assessment of the patient” (CPSM standard). 

These tariffs were designed to recognize virtual care as a clinically appropriate alternative to in-person visits, with reimbursement aligned at 100% of equivalent in-person rates in most cases. 

As virtual care continues to evolve, it remains important for physicians to stay familiar with the billing rules, eligibility requirements, and appropriate use of each tariff to ensure claims are submitted accurately and efficiently.

Billing: Episodic or Continuing Relationship? 

From a billing perspective, Manitoba’s approach for virtual visits is designed for two types of care: 

  1. Episodic or one-off visits, or 
  2. Continued patient care 

Depending on the episodic or continuing nature of the patient relationship, different tariffs are available. 

Rule 62 in the Physicians Manual lays out the rules. Below is a summary, and physicians are encouraged to review Rule 62 to determine if their care is considered episodic or a continuing patient relationship. 

  • A continuing patient relationship is defined as a patient that has been seen by the physician or another physician within the same practice group within the preceding 24 months or is being referred from one physician to another. Special provisions are in place to also recognize virtual visits for psychiatric care or if the virtual visit is provided under a contract with the health system to continue care, such as in rural or northern communities. 
  • Other visits are considered episodic, such as virtual equivalents to one-off visits or walk-in care. Notably, current tariff rates depend on whether the episodic virtual visit was delivered by phone or video.

Virtual Visit Types and Tariffs 

Virtual visit types largely mirror in-person visit types in most situations. Examples are provided below with tariff numbers from the Bloc of General Practice – be sure to check tariff numbers for your specialty. 

Continuing Patient Relationship Episodic by Video Episodic by Phone
Basic visit (under 10 min) (tariff 8345) Basic visit (under 10 min) (tariff 8345) Episodic by phone (8340)
Intermediate visit ( over 10 min or age 65+) (8321) Intermediate visit (over 10 min or age 65+) (8321)
Extended visit for 2+ complaints (8350) Extended visit for 2+ complaints (under 20 min) (8350)
Comprehensive virtual assessment* (8442)

Read this article about complete exams for more information. 

Additional virtual visit tariffs are available for consultation visits. 

Premiums may apply:

  • After hours premiums can only be claimed under a continuing patient relationship, and only if the visit is considered urgent/​emergent. See this article about after hours premiums.
  • Extended hours primary care premiums may be claimed if the virtual visit is an extension of a physical practice. See this article about extended hours premiums.
  • Age premiums for patients age 65 – 69 or 70+ are applied automatically. 
  • Rural and Northern premiums apply too. If you and the patient are in different parts of Manitoba, a split premium may apply. Read more here.

Key points of virtual visit tariff framework: 

  • Paid at 100% of in-person visits rates 
  • Start and Stop times are no longer required for most virtual visits, reducing administrative work. 
  • Exception: Extended virtual visits still require start/​stop times. 
  • Documentation requirements remain, including chart notes and evidence of medical necessity. 
  • Physicians must personally provide the service (no delegation).
Family Practice Virtual Visit Tariffs

The table and notes below summarize the most common virtual visit tariffs for family medicine. Please ensure you also review the sections related to continuing patient relationships and episodic care, if applicable to your practice. You may also find tariffs under the general schedule as well.

Tariff Description Rate or Equivalent Tariff
8340 Episodic virtual visit by phone (NEW effective October 1, 2023) $20.81
8345 Basic virtual visit by telephone or video (NEW effective October 1, 2023) 8509
8321 Intermediate virtual visit by telephone or video 8529
8535 Virtual consultation by telephone or video 8550
8442 Comprehensive Virtual Assessment by telephone or video. 8540
~8350 Extended virtual visit by video (PROVISIONAL) $70 + age premiums*

* Age premiums are automatically applied by Manitoba Health to eligible visits. 

  1. When 8345, 8321 is provided by telephone the service must be part of a continuing patient relationship as described in Rule of Application (see below).
  2. 8442 may only be provided as part of a continuing patient relationship as described in Rule of Application (see below).
  3. Age premium rates are eligible for tariffs 8321, 8442 and ~8350.
  4. An extended visit (8350) is to assess two or more distinct complaints or problems from the patient, and shall be comprised of:

a. A history of the presenting two or more complaints;
b. An examination of the parts or systems related to the presenting complaints;
c. A review of all pertinent investigations;
d. A complete written record and advice to the patient;
e. The visit shall be a minimum of twenty (20) minutes of physician time. 


For tariff 8350 (extended virtual visit by video), start and stop times must be noted because this is a provisional tariff. You can read more about this provisional tariff here.

General Schedule Virtual Visit Tariffs
Tariff Description Equivalent Rate
8527 Chronic Care virtual visit by telephone or video 8511
8655 Virtual psychotherapy by telephone or video by non-psychiatrist 8580
8675 Virtual Group Psychotherapy two or more patients by telephone or video by non-psychiatrist 8589

Note: Requirements are generally similar to the in-person equivalent tariffs.

Pediatrics Virtual Visit Tariffs

The table and notes below summarize the most common virtual visit tariffs for pediatrics. Please ensure you also review the sections related to continuing patient relationships and episodic care, if applicable to your practice. You may also find tariffs under the general schedule as well.

Tariff Description Rate or Equivalent Tariff
8340 Episodic virtual visit by phone  $20.81
8345 Basic virtual visit by telephone or video 8509
8321 Intermediate virtual visit by telephone or video 8529
8535 Virtual consultation by telephone or video 8550
8447 Comprehensive Virtual Assessment by telephone or video. 8540
8350 Extended virtual visit by video (PROVISIONAL) $80

NOTES


  1. When 8345 or 8321 is provided by telephone the service must be part of a continuing patient relationship as described in Rule of Application
  2. 8447 may only be provided as part of a continuing patient relationship as described in Rule of Application
  3. An extended visit (8350) is to assess two or more distinct complaints or problems from the patient, and shall be comprised of:

a. A history of the presenting two or more complaints;
b. An examination of the parts or systems related to the presenting complaints;
c. A review of all pertinent investigations;
d. A complete written record and advice to the patient;
e. The visit shall be a minimum of twenty (20) minutes of physician time. 


For tariff 8350 (extended virtual visit by video), start and stop times must be noted because this is a provisional tariff. You can read more about this provisional tariff here.

Psychiatry Virtual Visit Tariffs

The table and notes below summarize the most common virtual visit tariffs for psychiatrists.

Tariff Description Equivalent Tariff
8533 Psychotherapy 8581
8786 Psychiatric Care 8584
8668 Group (2−4) Psychotherapy 8444
8669 Group (5+) Psychotherapy 8446
8521 Consultation by psychiatrist involving a child ( 8554 or 8622

Note: Requirements are generally similar to the in-person equivalent tariffs.

Other Specialty Virtual Tariffs

The table and notes below summarize the most common virtual visit tariffs for specialists. Please ensure you also review the sections related to continuing patient relationships and episodic care, if applicable to your practice. You may also find tariffs under the general schedule as well.

Tariff Description Equivalent Tariff
8340 Episodic virtual visit by phone  $20.81
8321 Virtual Visit Regional history or exam (e.g. 8529)
8447 Comprehensive Virtual Assessment In-person complete exam (eg. 8540)
8535 Consultation Consultation (e.g. 8550)

Note: Requirements are generally similar to the in-person equivalent tariffs.

New Rule of Application for Virtual Medicine

1. A Virtual Medicine Visit is a medical service provided to a patient by a physician by telephone or video. Telephone means synchronous audio-only communication (no visualization); and video means 2‑way synchronous video-conference (audio and video visualization) 

2. For the purposes of claiming Virtual Medicine Visits, continuing patient relationship means:

i) The physician has provided at least one insured service for the patient in the preceding 24 months; or;

ii) The patient is on the panel of another physician within the same practice group who has provided at least one insured service to the patient in the preceding 24 months and the physician has access to the patient’s electronic medical record; or;

iii) The physician is providing services through a contractual arrangement with Manitoba, a Health Authority or under the Physician Services Agreement including but not limited to Specialist On-Call coverage or coverage of a Rural or Northern ED; or;

iv) The patient has been referred to the physician from another health care provider or health care service in Manitoba; or;

v) The virtual medicine visit is for the purpose of psychiatric care or psychotherapy.

3. Virtual Medicine Visits may be claimed subject to the following:

a) Services must be personally rendered by the physician, i.e., no claim may be made for a virtual medicine visit in which only a physician proxy, e.g., nurse or clerk, participates.

b) Maximum of one virtual visit per patient per day may be claimed.

c) The patient and the physician must both be located in Manitoba at the time of service, except where otherwise authorized by the Provincial CMO or designate.

d) After Hours Premiums may only be claimed when there is a continuing patient relationship as described above and the visit is an urgent or emergent service,

e) Medical services provided must be documented and such documentation may be requested by Manitoba, to support the claim submitted.

f) Geographical fee differentials shall apply in addition. The geographical fee differential shall be determined by the average of the fee differential applicable to the patient’s location and applicable to the physician’s location. 

g) Where, during the course of the virtual visit, it is determined an in-patient assessment is necessary, the physician may bill a Basic or Intermediate virtual visit as appropriate. The subsequent in person visit may be billed at the appropriate in-person examination tariff in addition.

Quick Reference Guide 

DO DON’T
DO provide a clinical assessment or management (diagnosis, medication review, treatment). 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 conduct the visit yourself. Virtual visits by non-physicians are not covered.  DON’T claim comprehensive virtual assessments (8442 or 8447) unless part of a continuing patient relationship. 
DO continue to provide PCH care in person. You can continue to use tariff 8000 for calls from PCH staff.  DON’T claim a virtual visit on the same day as an in-person visit. 
DO claim rural and northern premiums if both you and your patient are outside of Winnipeg. DON’T claim office/​home visit tariffs for services provided virtually. 
DO obtain and document verbal consent for virtual care.  DON’T claim after hours premiums except for established patients for urgent or emergency communications.
DO ensure that you are verifying a patient’s identity prior to any health services being provided. 

Further Reading

Virtual visits are unique, and require diligent alignment with CPSM standards and Manitoba Health tariff requirements. Below are other sources to support you in your practice: 

Last updated
September 10, 2026
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