Six things B.C. docs should know about new payment rates from WorkSafeBC

The new agreement between Doctors of BC and WorkSafeBC includes some items that will directly impact a physician’s pay and administrative burden.The physician services agreement was signed in March 2024 and includes more than $6 million a year in new funding by 2025. It outlines the relationship between WorkSafeBC and fee-for-service and sessionally paid physicians. Here are six ways it will directly impact a physician’s remuneration and workflow:1.Anesthesiologists no longer have to submit a record of anesthesia every time they make a submission for payment from WorkSafeBC.2.When WorkSafe BC receives form 8 (fee code 19937) electronically within two business days from the date of service, there is a new payment fee of $70.28. Before April 2023, there was no applicable fee. The payment depends on when the form is sent to WorkSafeBC. For example, if a physician submits the form within one business day, they’re paid $74.97.3.While WorkSafeBC deliberates on whether the patient’s claim will be approved or not, it will still pay physicians for up to 18 Form 11s submitted for that patient. Form 11 is to report on a patient’s progress or a change in treatment.4.Two fee codes have been replaced with new fee codes. Fee codes 19909 and 19910 have been replaced with:Fee code 19978, the pre-operative or standardized assessment formFee code 19977, the opioid extension formHow much a physician is paid depends on when they submit the form. For example, if a physician sends a standardized assessment form after 15 business days, WorkSafeBC pays the physician $230.72, but if they submit the form before 15 business days, WorkSafeBC pays $247.18. 5.A nurse practitioner may be allowed to make a referral for initial and repeat expedited comprehensive consultation. A physician can also make referrals to another physician with a certain area of expertise, including a physician who is a Royal College specialist.6.When the physician has to spend a significant amount of time complying with WorkSafeBC’s request for a report or a chart note, a physician can ask WorkSafeBC to approve one additional 19953 fee code to compensate for the extra time. The 19953 fee code is $158.22.The agreement will be in effect until March 31, 2025. The full Doctors of BC and WorkSafeBC physician services agreement is available on the Doctors of BC website.Read: Voted in: New president-elect at Doctors of B.C.

Six things B.C. docs should know about new payment rates from WorkSafeBC

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