Bulletin 241002 — Update: Health Card Validation technical specifications
Health Card Validation Reference Manual and technical specifications for Health Card Validation Service are updated.
To: OHIP Billing Software Vendors
Category: Billing Software Specifications
Written by: Claims Services Branch, Health Programs and Delivery Division
Date issued: October 11, 2024
Bulletin Number: 241002
Background
The Health Card Validation (HCV) system was updated to enable time-limited validation for optometry services.
Additionally, starting October 2024, the Ministry of Health will implement a new HCV web service security feature that limits the number of validation attempts a provider can make on each health card number.
We have revised the HCV reference manual and technical specifications to reflect these changes.
New Time Limited Service response codes
The following time limited service response codes were added to Appendix B: Time Limited Fee Service Code – Return Codes in the technical specification document and Appendix C – Time Limited Service Response Codes in the HCV reference manual.
| Response Code | Response |
|---|---|
| 205 | Oculo-visual minor assessment not eligible, check major oculo-visual examination eligibility |
| 206 | Eligible major oculo-visual examination performed and oculo-visual minor assessment limit has not been reached |
| 207 | Limit of oculo-visual minor assessments reached |
| 208 | Limit of complexity modifier reached |
| 209 | Physician eye exam on history, major oculo-visual examination not eligible |
| 210 | A major oculo-visual examination has been performed on this patient within the permitted time frame |
For more details about the time limited response codes, please refer INFOBulletin 240506.
Security enhancement
The new security feature will be added to the HCV web service, which allows the provider up to five attempts to validate an individual health card number and version code. After 5 unsuccessful attempts, the response code 91 will be returned, and the health card number will be restricted from being validated by the provider until the next day.
Providers will still have the option of using the HCV Interactive Voice Response system (
The details of the new response code are as follows.
Health Card Validation Reference Manual – Appendix A – Response codes
| Response code | Descriptive text | Recommended Action Including Message to Patient |
|---|---|---|
| 91 | Health card validation attempts exceeded. | Web Service validation attempts exceeded. Please try again tomorrow or use the Health Card Validation Interactive Voice Response System |
Technical specification document - Appendix A: Response codes
| Response code | Response ID | Descriptive text | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 91 | ATTEMPTS_EXCEEDED | Health card validation attempts exceeded | Response Code is returned but no Personal Characteristics are available |
Additional information
The revised version of the Health Card Validation Reference Manual and Technical Specifications for Health Card Validation (HCV) Service via Electronic Business Services documents are available on the OHIP Publications page.
Keywords/Tags
Health Card Reference Manual; HCV; 91; Technical specifications; Response codes; Optometry; OHIP
Contact information
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