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Physiotherapists

Last updated on January 1, 2020

Only those MSP beneficiaries with supplementary benefits status qualify for MSP coverage of physiotherapy services. To verify a patient's eligibility for these benefits, use the Teleplan online eligibility check feature or call Coverage Enquiries.

Enrolment

Physiotherapists who are licensed by the College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia (CPTBC) are eligible to enrol with MSP and obtain MSP billing numbers.

Enrolment status, and, therefore, the possession of an active billing number, is contingent upon the practitioner's continued licensure by theCPTBC. Any change in licensure, such as the renewal of a temporary license or specialty, must be reported to MSP to avoid refusal of claims.

Enrolled Physiotherapists

Licensed physiotherapists who register with MSP are called "enrolled" physiotherapists. Enrolled physiotherapists may choose to be "opted-in" or "opted-out".

Opted-in physiotherapists must bill MSP directly for all required services provided to MSP beneficiaries. Opted-in physiotherapists are prohibited by legislation from charging MSP beneficiaries more than the amount paid by MSP for an MSP-insured service.

Opted-out physiotherapists have elected to bill patients directly for insured services. Although opted-out physiotherapists may choose to submit claims to MSP on behalf of patients who are MSP beneficiaries, MSP reimburses the beneficiaries directly for those insured services.

Physiotherapists Who Are Not Enrolled

The services of a non-enrolled or de-enrolled physiotherapist are not benefits of MSP. These services can be billed directly to the patient for an amount more than that set in the physiotherapy payment schedule, provided the patient is advised of the practitioner's payment protocol before the service is rendered.

Assignment of a Billing Number

Each practitioner enrolled with MSP is assigned a billing number consisting of two numbers:

  • a practitioner number, which identifies the practitioner rendering the service, and
  • a payment number, which identifies the person or group (e.g. clinic, hospital) to which payment is to be made.

The practitioner and payment numbers are usually the same. However, they differ in cases where a practitioner designates another practitioner or a group, such as a clinic or hospital, to receive that practitioner's MSP fee-for-service payments. See Assignment of Payment.

All claims submitted to MSP must include the practitioner number of the practitioner who performed the service; therefore, a practitioner cannot bill under another practitioner's number. The practitioner whose number appears on the MSP claim assumes full responsibility for the service provided.

Applying for a Billing Number

Physiotherapists wishing to obtain a billing number from MSP must follow a clearly defined process.

  1. You must first request licensure from the College of Physical Therapists.
  2. You must complete and submit the following application form:

Change of Address or Licence

If you change your address or telephone number, or if there is a change in your specialty or licence status, you must advise MSP so that your records can be updated accordingly. Timely notification of changes enables MSP to provide practitioners with accurate and efficient service and helps prevent unnecessary refusal of claims.

De-enrolment and Opting Out

A physiotherapist may:

  • enrol with MSP (if licensed with the appropriate licensing body); or
  • once enrolled, opt out of MSP; or
  • once enrolled, de-enrol from MSP (cancel the enrolment); or
  • not enrol with MSP.

Notifying Patients

If a physiotherapist intends to require their patients to pay all or a portion of the costs of a service, he or she must inform the patient, prior to rendering the service:

  • that the patient will be required to pay part or all of the cost directly;
  • the amount the patient will be required to pay; and
  • the amount the patient can expect to be reimbursed by MSP.

Preamble and Payment Schedule

  1. This includes as insured services the services of physical therapists who are registered members in good standing with the College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia, and licensed under the Health Professions Act, when rendered in the Province of British Columbia to insured persons as prescribed in #2 below.
  2. Physical therapy services (delivered on an out-patient basis) will be an insured benefit only for beneficiaries with Medical Services Plan (MSP) supplementary benefits status. Some hospitals may provide in-patient/in-hospital physical therapy services to all patients as part of their treatment programs.
  3. Payment for physical therapy services insured under MSP can be claimed as follows:

09938 Physiotherapy Service...................................$23.00

Notes:          

  1. This item is applicable only to patients who have MSP supplementary benefits status.
  2. Subject to i) above, acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathic, non-surgical podiatry, and physical therapy services are benefits up to a combined maximum of 10 visits per patient per calendar year.
  3. Only payable if an adequate clinical record has been created and maintained.

(...)

Complete Preamble and Payment Schedule:

MSP Payment Schedule: Physical Therapy Services (PDF, 67KB)

ICBC Payment Schedule

Physiotherapists

Effective for dates of service starting April 1, 2019, ICBC will no longer support Teleplan as an invoicing method for ICBC-insured services administered by a Physiotherapist. ICBC is creating a simplified way to submit invoices and reports through a Health Care Provider Invoicing and Reporting web based form. 

Please visit ICBC’s Health Services Business Partners page for more information about the new invoicing process at:

https://www.icbc.com/partners/health-services/Pages/invoicing-and-reporting.aspx

Please note ICBC claims will continue to be accepted via Teleplan for services rendered on dates prior to April 1, 2019.

All authorized motor vehicle related invoices for physiotherapy treatment are to be processed through Teleplan at the following rates.

Fee Code Treatment Description ICBC Fee

9904

Initial Visit: Includes evaluation and treatment. May be paid only once per year unless three clear months since last treatment.

$25.20

9902

Subsequent Visit: A short evaluation and either treatment or instruction on home exercise and care of the condition, requiring 25 minutes of direct contact with the patient.

$17.65

9933

Prolonged Visit: Assessment and treatment, and may include instruction on home exercise and care of the condition, requiring at least 25 minutes of direct contact with the patient.

$23.60

9934

Prolonged Visit: Assessment and treatment, and may include instruction on home exercise and care of the condition, requiring at least 10 minutes of direct contact with the patient, plus an additional 30 minutes of supervised treatment or exercise.

$23.60

9935

Prolonged Visit, CNS: Assessment and treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders/conditions, requiring at least 35 minutes of direct patient contact. CNS disorders may include head injury, hemiplegia, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, etc.

$35.90

9908

Home Visit: Requires the therapist to travel to the patient's home for assessment and treatment.

$28.70

9903

First additional area

$6.75

9913

Second additional area

$6.75

9914

Third additional area: Up to three additional areas may be billed.

$6.75

The College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia regulates physiotherapists in the public interest.

Many supplementary benefits practitioners are opted-out of MSP. This means they are allowed to charge patients more for a service than is set out in the Payment Schedule.

If you are an opted-out practitioner, you must advise your patients, prior to the treatment being performed:

  • that you have opted out;
  • how much is reimbursed by MSP; and
  • how much your patient will be paying in addition to the MSP fee.