Diagnostic Services

Outpatient diagnostic services are provided in approved facilities in both community and hospital settings.  A diagnostic facility is defined as “a facility, place or office principally equipped for prescribed diagnostic services, studies or procedures, and includes any branches of a diagnostic facility.”

On this page...

• Advisory Committee on Diagnostic Facilities
• Approved Diagnostic Outpatient Requisition Forms
• Assignment of Payment
• Diagnostic Facilities Administration
• Diagnostic Service Modalities
• Payment Schedule, Categories, and Fee Items
• Policies and Guidelines

Advisory Committee on Diagnostic Facilities

The Advisory Committee on Diagnostic Facilities is a committee of the Medical Services Commission that provides advice, assistance, and recommendations to support the Medical Services Commission’s powers, duties, and functions in relation to outpatient diagnostic services and facilities.

Any publicly or privately-owned diagnostic facility in British Columbia intending to bill BC’s Medical Services Plan for outpatient services, must first apply for a new, relocation, or expansion Certificate of Approval.

• Learn more about the Advisory Committee on Diagnostic Facilities
• Check here for final decisions concerning application approvals or denials: 
  Key Decisions Made by the Committee
• Committee Meeting Schedule
• Application and Notification Forms

Approved Diagnostic Outpatient Requisition Forms

Requisition forms approved by the Medical Services Commission for provincial use.

• Approved Diagnostic Outpatient Requisition Forms

Assignment of Payment 

July 26, 2020: Important changes for individuals submitting Diagnostic Facilities Services’ Assignment of Payment and Medical Director Authorization. Click here for more details.

Diagnostic Facilities Administration

Diagnostic Facilities Administration supports the application process for new, expansion and relocation of publicly-owned and privately-owned outpatient diagnostic facilities through the Advisory Committee on Diagnostic Facilities (ACDF), a committee of the Medical Services Commission (MSC).

Diagnostic Service Modalities

The following modalities, within the Medical Services Commission’s Payment Schedule, have been deemed ‘restricted.’  Any facility that wishes to provide and bill BC’s Medical Services Plan for these services requires approval from the Advisory Committee on Diagnostic Facilities or the Medical Services Commission.  The restricted diagnostic modalities include:

• diagnostic radiology 
• diagnostic ultrasound (including TTE & TEE) 
• nuclear medicine scanning 
• polysomnography 
• pulmonary function 
• electromyography (EMG) 
• electroencephalography (EEG) 

For information on laboratory services including the Laboratory Services Payment Schedule; Schedules of Benefits for Referring Practitioners; Facility Approval Applications; and Operator Payment Administration forms, please see:  www.gov.bc.ca/laboratoryservices.

Payment Schedule, Categories, and Fee Items

Payment to approved diagnostic facilities is on a fee-for-service basis and is facilitated through the Diagnostic Services Assignment of Payment process.

• Categories and Fee Items

Policies and Guidelines

• Policies and Guidelines for Diagnostic Outpatient Facilities