ICBC PATIENTS
If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, you are automatically pre-approved by ICBC for these services in the 12 weeks following your accident date:
- Up to 25 ICBC physiotherapy Burnaby sessions
- Up to 25 chiropractic sessions
- Up to 12 massage therapy sessions
- Up to 12 active rehab sessions
- Up to 12 clinical counselling sessions
- Up to 12 acupuncture sessions
Please note that automatic pre-approval does not apply if:
- You have sought treatment elsewhere and are transferring your care to Plaza Physiotherapy
- Your accident date occurred more than 12 weeks ago
- Your claim is potentially a WorksafeBC claim (i.e. you were working at the time of the accident)
The following treatment options are fully covered by ICBC, within approval dates:
- Initial and subsequent ICBC physiotherapy Burnaby sessions
- Initial 45 minute RMT session
See below for a complete list of patient user fees. Please note that user fees are not reimbursable by ICBC.
ICBC CLAIM – INITIAL PHYSIOTHERAPY
45 MINUTES | NO USER FEE
For your first visit, please ensure you have your ICBC Claim number, Adjusters name, and phone number. The initial Physiotherapy treatment will include a diagnostic assessment and creation of a treatment plan plus education and take home exercise homework. Treatment will vary on individual cases and includes a mixture of hands on Manual Therapy, exercise movement instruction and prescription. Modalities include ultrasound, inferential, electromuscular stimulation, and possible Acupuncture.
ICBC CLAIM – SUBSEQUENT PHYSIOTHERAPY
30 MINUTES | NO USER FEE
For your subsequent visits ICBC will cover 30min appointment for the rest of your treatment block. Treatment will vary on individual cases and includes a mixture of hands on Manual Therapy, exercise movement instruction and prescription. Modalities include ultrasound, inferential, electro-muscular stimulation, and possible Acupuncture.
ICBC RMT INITIAL ASSESSMENT
45 MINUTES | NO FEE
First Registered Massage Therapy appointment only. Please ensure you have your adjusters name and claim number on intake form or upon arrival.
ICBC RMT SUBSEQUENT VISIT
45 MINUTES | $20
Available only for ICBC patients who have had their initial assessment.
ICBC RMT 60 MINUTE TREATMENT
60 MINUTES | $48
Available only for ICBC patients who have had their initial assessment.
Why do I have to pay a user fee?
ICBC does not fully cover Registered Massage Therapy at Plaza Physiotherapy. If paying a user fee is not an option for you, please select one of the services that do not have a user fee associated or reach out to your extended health care provider as per the next question.
Unfortunately, extended health care providers do not allow us to submit invoices for ICBC-related treatments. We strongly encourage you to inquire with your insurer to determine if you are able to self-submit your user fee receipts for reimbursement prior to initiating treatment.
No, ICBC will not pay for any fees associated with late cancelled or missed appointments. These fees are the sole responsibility of the client and are not reimbursable by ICBC or your extended health care provider.
It is important that you are always aware of your session limit(s) and/or end date(s). For the initial approval following an accident, your treatment block end date is 12 weeks from the date of your accident. In the event that a treatment extension is obtained, your new session limit and end date will be communicated to you by our front staff. In the event that you have forgotten or are unsure of your coverage information, please ensure that you inquire with our reception team or your therapist and they will be happy to provide you with that information. We do our best to keep our clients informed and are continually improving our systems to facilitate communication, but it is the ultimate responsibility of the patient to be aware of their coverage status.
What if I reach my end date/session limit and my therapist(s) and I determine I need further treatment?
If you are approaching your pre-approved session limit or end date and you and your therapist determine that further treatment is required, an ICBC treatment extension plan can be requested by your therapist. We strongly encourage patients to obtain a GP referral for further treatment prior to requesting an extension to avoid any delays in obtaining approval from ICBC. Once the request is submitted, our administrative team will follow up with ICBC until a decision has been made.
Yes! Our number one priority is your care and continuity is important. In the event that you surpass your session limit or end date, you are able to continue with treatment by paying the private amount associated with the session at the time of your appointment. Any amounts paid are held on your account as a credit until ICBC contacts us with a decision. At that time, one of two things will occur:
- If ICBC approves your extension request: Plaza Physiotherapy will refund you in full for any payments you have made for approved sessions.
- If ICBC denies your extension request: Plaza Physiotherapy will update your billing to reflect private sessions/payments and provide you with official treatment receipts which can be submitted to your extended health care provider or used for tax purposes.
Can you bill my extended health care provider for treatments while I am waiting for an extension request to be approved?
Unfortunately, 3rd party insurers do not allow us to submit invoices for ICBC-related treatments. However, in the event that ICBC denies your extension request, you are able to submit receipts for any treatments you received for your insurer’s review.
ICBC adjusters review extension requests on a case-by-case basis. Sometimes, this may take longer than expected. In some cases, ICBC may require additional information to make a decision. In order to avoid delays, we strongly recommend patients obtain a GP referral for further treatment prior to their end date or session limit. Our team follows up regularly on all outstanding extension requests to get an answer as quickly as possible. We encourage patients to follow-up directly with their adjusters or lawyers (if applicable) in the event that ICBC is taking an extended period of time to respond to an extension request.
Sometimes ICBC may deny a treatment extension. In this case, you are of course welcome to continue treatment at Plaza Physiotherapy on a private paying basis.