Acupuncturists

Do you provide acupuncture treatments to customers injured in a car crash? Here are a few things you should know.

Changes to invoicing and reporting

ICBC has simplified the way you request and invoice for treatment through our new web-based application, also known as the Health Care Provider Invoicing and Reporting (HCPIR) application. In order to use the HCPIR, a vendor number is required.

If you have been paid by ICBC before, you likely already have a vendor number. To find out how to locate your vendor number, please visit our Invoicing and reporting page. If you do not already have a vendor number or you need to make changes to your information, visit our Vendor number page.

Treatment guidelines

Acupuncturists are expected to assess patients and determine their treatment plans in accordance with the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of BC.

As of April 1, 2019, when treating a patient with an injury listed in sections 3 or 4 of the Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols in the Minor Injury Regulation made under the Insurance (Vehicle) Act, a health care practitioner must educate the patient with respect to the following:

(1) (a) if applicable, the desirability of an early return:

a. to the activities the patient could perform before the injury, or

b. to the patient's employment, occupation or profession or the patient's training or education in a program or course;

(b) an estimate of the probable length of time that symptoms will last;

(c) the usual course of recovery;

(d) the probable factors that are responsible for the symptoms the patient may be experiencing;

(e) appropriate self-management and pain management strategies.

(2) When treating a pain syndrome and a psychological or psychiatric condition, a health care practitioner must identify comorbid conditions, if applicable.

Fees

Effective April 1, 2019, the provincial government updated the treatment fees that ICBC will cover for care and treatment after a crash. This has been outlined in the Insurance (Vehicle) Act and is highlighted in the table below.

Fee table

These fees apply to all treatments administered on or after April 1, 2020, regardless of the date of the accident that caused the injury

*The initial fee visit includes the assessment and treatment provided that day. A standard visit is not to be charged for the date the initial visit took place.

Notes

• ICBC does not require acupuncturists to complete medical reports.
• ICBC customers who choose to visit a health care provider that charges a higher rate than what ICBC funds under accident benefits (indicated above), will not be able to recover the user fees from ICBC for claims with a date of loss on or after April 1, 2019. This will mean that the patient is responsible for paying the user fee portion, which they may submit to their private health insurer for consideration of coverage.
• Treatments are based on sessions provided and fees reflect fair market rate for a standard industry visit. Treatment frequency will be based on clinical recommendations and should reflect best practice. However, multiple sessions provided by the same discipline, on the same day, will not be funded.
• In the case of a no-show, the clinic's no-show and cancellation policies should apply. ICBC will not pay for no-show appointments.
• Under ICBC's temporary telehealth policy (announced March 20, 2020), acupuncturists are unable to access telehealth services due to the nature of the billable services provided. Please see the Telehealth FAQ.

To see the current list of fees applicable to all treatments up to and including March 31, 2019, please refer to the BC Medical Services Plan Schedule.

Contact & support

The Health Care Inquiry Unit (HCIU) is available to address questions Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. PST

• Lower mainland: 604-587-7150
• Toll free: 1-888-717-7150

For additional support and information, visit the Support and resources page.