As of April 1st, 2019 ICBC made some serious changes to all of their programs and how paramedical providers such as Registered Massage Therapists interact with them. Many of these changes have been financially beneficial to the client, making the burden of after-accident medical care a little easier. So what changed? What does the new system look like now?

Here is a rundown on the changes and what it means to you and us:

Fees and Payments

Previously ICBC paid only $23 directly to a massage therapist, with the patient having to privately pay the remainder of their treatment and give that receipt to their adjuster for reimbursement. Now, ICBC pays $107 for the first assessment treatment, and $80 for the remaining treatments. This is paid directly to the massage therapist by ICBC. This does not necessarily cover the cost of the entire treatment received, nor is ICBC legislating that this is to be the required total cost of the treatment. If your treatment cost is not covered by the amount ICBC pays, you’ll need to pay the remaining amount privately, or if you have private insurance (Manulife, Blue Cross, etc.) we can discuss billing the remaining amount of the treatment to your insurance plan. ICBC will no longer be offering reimbursement by adjustor for receipts for any remaining costs. Because of these changes we now offer a new 40 minute treatment for ICBC patients who don’t want to pay out of pocket.

Visits Available

ICBC gives you 12 visits to a massage therapist up front without requiring a doctor’s note, to be completed within 12 weeks of the date of your motor vehicle accident. If your massage therapist and you together agree that you would benefit from additional treatments, we’re able to request an extension from ICBC. It is not promised that we will receive one.

Reporting

While massage therapists are not required to make the type of steady reports other paramedical providers are, we are required to provide formal discharge at the end of treatment and provide ICBC with information related to your discharge. During your treatment it is not unusual for an adjuster to check-in on your progress and see what the massage therapist’s opinion is.

Billing

ICBC has introduced a brand new online application called the Health Care Provider Invoicing and Reporting (HCPIR). Previously invoices were hand-written or filled in online via a pdf form and faxed (eventually changed to e-mail) to ICBC for submission. This new portal allows us to do everything digitally, including requests for treatment extensions and filling out our discharge information.

All of the new rules and information can be found on ICBC’s website by clicking this link.

We are all set up with the new system and have been using it effectively.

What do you need to bring to us if you’ve had a car accident, and have an ICBC claim? Please inform the person booking your appointment of the following: your date of motor vehicle accident, your claim number, and your adjuster’s information if you have it. Whether you are a new patient or an existing patient, the first treatment in after an MVA will be used to assess the situation, discuss a treatment plan, and begin implementing it. During this process please be completely frank with your massage therapist about what you are feeling, what body changes happen, and how your body feels during and after treatment, and in the days between your next treatment. We look forward to being a partner in your care!