March 2025 RMA and OHIP News
- 8 min read
Every month, RMA compiles and summarizes the most important OHIP billing updates and RMA news for your convenience. March’s news is summarized below.
Ontario Cervical Screening Program Update
INFOBulletin #250203 announced that Ontario is introducing the human papillomavirus (HPV) test in the Ontario Cervical Screening Program (OCSP) effective March 3, 2025. This will replace cervical cytology (“Pap” testing) with human papillomavirus (HPV) laboratory testing as the primary screening test. As a result, amendments have been made to the fee code descriptors and payment rules in the schedule of benefits for the following fee codes:
- G365, G394
- E430, E431
- Z731, Z787, Z730
The updated schedule of benefits effective March 3, 2025 can be found here.
New Claims Payment Rules Related to Cervical Cancer Screening
INFOBulletin #250204 announced the new payment rules related to cervical cancer screening fee codes (G365, G394, E430, E431, Z731, Z787 and Z730) effective for service dates as of March 3, 2025. The new payments rules are as follows:
- Age eligibility for G365 and E430 is changed from 21 years old to 25 years old.
- G365 and G394 are not eligible for payment with Z730, Z731 or Z787 (Endoscopy) by the same provider, for the same patient, on the same date of service.
Applying an OHIP Billing Number to a Claim for a Referring Physician and Adding an OHIP Billing Number to the Referring Doctor Database
Every physician practicing in Ontario has a 5 or 6-digit CPSO number (College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario), which is their license and the physician also has as a 6-digit OHIP billing number. When submitting claims to OHIP for a consultation, OHIP requires the 6-digit OHIP billing number of the physician who referred the patient.
Claims submitted to OHIP with a CPSO number will incur rejects to the physician. When a claim rejects because the CPSO number has been used in error, the city field in the database will be updated to indicate, “CPSO NBR DO NOT USE” until the correct one is found. Please do not select a referring doctor if the city says “CPSO NBR. DO NOT USE”. Once the correct one has been found, the database will be corrected.
Important!
If the referring physician is indicated on the billing sheet by name and by OHIP billing number, it is strongly recommended to search by name using the “lookup referring doctor” function on Web STAR. Searching by name can quickly indicate if you are applying the correct 6-digit OHIP billing number and NOT the CPSO number. If the referring physician is not found in the database by name, when adding a new physician to the Lookup Referring Doctor database on Web STAR, please ensure that you are adding the 6-digit OHIP billing number including the preceding 0 (zero) if only 5 digits are indicated. E.g. Dr. Smith’s OHIP billing number indicated on the billing sheet is 12345; therefore, 012345 should be added to the database. If the preceding 0 (zero) is missed, an error will occur to the database.
2024 Payment Summary
Payment summaries for the 2024 calendar year (January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024) were released at the end of February 2025. This document details the payments that were deposited to you from RMA during this time period. These statements will aid you in your tax preparation for unincorporated physicians and those with a corporate year end date of December 31st. In order to obtain your payment summary logon to the RMA portal, click “My RMA Reports” (on the left hand tool bar), click “Annual Payment Summaries.” You will see “RMA 2024 Payment Summary”. If you have forgotten your logon credentials please reach out to Tania Marini ciccagl@mcmaster.ca
Notice of HHS Parking in Arrears
Recently a number of parkers at HHS locations have received an email from the parking office indicating their parking is in arrears. This is due to a billing system update (completed by HHS) which prompted a review of all HHS parkers’ billing information. Upon this review it was found that some parkers were not being billed. For those that were not billed, HHS has requested payment for the 2024/25 parking year (April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025), even though a parker may have not been paying prior to this period.
As a reminder, parking fees are an eligible ABE for those that have opted into the service. Should you receive an email from HHS parking indicating your parking is in arrears, you may forward this email to Mitch Salisbury (salisbum@mcmaster.ca) to have this expense paid on your behalf.
Paging Services Fee Increase
Health Information Technology Services at HHS has informed us of an increase in paging services as of January 1, 2025. This adjustment, the first in over fifteen years, is necessary due to increased operating costs, Please see below for changes:
Service | Current Cost | January 1/25 |
Paging file – reach via pager | $20 per month | $30 per month |
Paging file – reach via calling cell phone | $20 per month | $30 per month |
Paging file – reach via SMAP user (Appear Lite app) | $20 per month | $25 per month |
Paging file – reach via web paging (text/email to your cell phone) | $20 per month + web connection $5 per month ($25) | $30 per month + web connection $10 per month ($40) |
Pager – short range rental | $15 per month | $20 per month |
Pager – short range purchase | $225 one-time fee | $275 one-time fee |
SMAP license (10 year transferrable) | $130 | $150 |
As a reminder, paging services are a fixed ABE (allowed business expense) which RMA typically pays on the behalf of physicians enrolled in RMA’s ABE service. Should you wish to make any changes to your paging services or have any questions you may reach out to Mitch Salisbury (salisbum@mcmaster.ca).
2025 CPSO Renewal
Your 2025 CPSO renewal application form has to be completed online. Payment can still be made by RMA. Please ensure CPSO has your current email address on file. You will receive your renewal notice in mid-April. Online renewal is the only way to renew. You will be charged a late fee if your online renewal and payment are not received by June 1, 2025.
You will receive your access information to complete your renewal form online. Once you have completed the renewal form please print and scan your invoice to RMA for payment OR if you prefer, pay your fees online and send in your receipt for reimbursement.
Please forward your invoice or receipt to Mitch Salisbury at salisbum@mcmaster.ca for payment or reimbursement.
2024 Tax Preparation
Tax preparation services are a part of your Allowed Business Expenses (ABE’s). These services are meant for RMA members only and not for your family or spouse. If you have several tax returns prepared by the same accountant, please ensure your invoice is itemized.
Note: these invoices will be paid only if there are sufficient funds remaining in your 2024/2025 variable ABE account. Please reach out to Mitch Salisbury (Salisbum@mcmaster.ca) to find out the remaining balance in your variable ABE account.
Please send your invoice for payment to Mitch Salisbury at RMA or via email Salisbum@mcmaster.ca
RCPSC 2025 Invoices
Your Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada 2025 Invoice will be delivered via email in early April. Invoices are due by May 2, 2025. Please forward your invoice for payment to Mitch Salisbury at RMA via salisbum@mcmaster.ca. Alternatively, you may submit your receipt to obtain reimbursement. Please note, a 2% increase to dues is being proposed, and will be voted on at the Annual Members Meeting on February 26.
IMPORTANT NOTE: RCPSC will be charging a $150 late fee for accounts that remain overdue as of May 31, 2025. The late fee is not eligible for reimbursement through RMA
OMA 2025 Dues Renewal
The OMA renewal process will begin on January 13, 2025 at which time you will also receive a renewal email. Your 2025 OMA renewal application must be completed online. Payment can be made through RMA as usual. OMA dues are a Fixed ABE and OMA constituency fees are Variable ABE’s.
Members can click on the “Pay dues and constituency fees”. Total amounts due will show at the chosen payment method. Take a screen shot and indicate your OMA number and send all the information via email to Mitch Salisbury, salisbum@mcmaster.ca.
Alternatively, you can pay your dues online by credit card and submit your receipt for reimbursement. If you have any questions, please contact Mitch Salisbury at ext. 26680 or salisbum@mcmaster.ca.
2025 CMPA Fee
You should have received an email from CMPA regarding your 2025 CMPA fees. Under payment method at the bottom left of your invoice you will see your payment options stated as one of three below:
Annual pre-authorize debit
Annual payment will be debited from your bank account on May 1 annually and participating in the MLP malpractice program receiving your CMPA rebate from the MOHLTC every April under option “A”.
Monthly pre-authorize debit
Monthly payments will be debited from your bank account on the 20th of each month. You should be participating in the MLP malpractice program receiving your CMPA rebate quarterly from the MOHLTC every April, July, October and January under option “B”
Annual Online payment
Payment is due online by January 1 each year. You should be participating in the MLP malpractice program receiving your CMPA rebate every April from the MOHLTC under option “A”.
For physicians with an Allowable Business Expense account you can send your CMPA Statement of Account after your payment has been made and either your CMPA Statement of Reimbursement or a copy of your CMPA rebate letter showing the amount you received. Please note, without the CMPA rebate letter RMA will not be able to reimburse your CMPA fees until the CMPA reimbursement schedule is released. As a reminder RMA reimburses your out-of-pocket expense which is CMPA fees less the CMPA rebate.
2025 Malpractice Rebate Program (CMPA Rebate)
Physicians receive reimbursement confirmation letters in the mail prior to their reimbursement being deposited confirming the amount and deposit date. If you need to change your banking information for your 2025 deposit please fill out this form and send along with your new banking information to the MLP reimbursement program. You can email it to them directly and they will send you an email confirmation reply.
For more information...
RMA has over 40 years of experience and expertise in the medical billing field. Our staff is always happy to help update physicians on the latest billing news. If you want more specific information on each INFOBulletin, check out the official website.
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