Update from ICBC

Medical Equipment Master Standing Agreement (MSA) reminder

Thank you to those of you who have been using the Equipment MSA when providing care for ICBC’s customers. For those of who have not been using the Equipment MSA, please remember that Occupational Therapists (OTs) who are on ICBC’s approved list of OTs should be recommending items from the Medical Equipment MSA prior to accessing other sources. ICBC participates in the Equipment MSA that is procured by the government of British Columbia, which allows the purchase or rental of durable medical and rehabilitation equipment from approved suppliers.

Medical Equipment MSA update

The most updated Equipment MSA list can be found on the Province of British Columbia’s website. This website contains the following information:

• List of providers, categorized by regions
• Devices and equipment available for purchase 

ICBC’s Business Partners page will be updated within a couple weeks to include a link to this website.

Medical Equipment MSA FAQs

Do I have to request approval for medical equipment orders?

Once an Occupational Therapist has been assigned to a customer, ICBC pre-authorizes the assigned OTs to rent/purchase medical equipment from an approved medical equipment supplier as long as the spending limit is less than $2,000 and within the 90-day authorization period.

What if I found a cheaper alternative from a different vendor?

Whenever possible, medical equipment should be ordered from the Medical Equipment MSA or where necessary, another reputable vendor. This ensures that equipment durability, maintenance and where required, returns, can be processed in an efficient and inexpensive way. ICBC does not bear the costs of equipment returns. If a customer selects a non-ICBC approved medical equipment supplier, the OT must request prior approval from the claims specialist or recovery specialist for the purchase amount.

Invoicing update for Occupational Therapists

Effective December 1, 2019, parking and gym fees for Occupational Therapists will be discontinued. The line item for gym fees will continue to be available on the Health Care Provider Invoicing and Reporting (HCPIR) application. This line item should only be used to submit an invoice for gym fees incurred by or for the customer. A proof of purchase, such as a receipt, is required upon request. Please note that this line item should not be used to invoice gym fees incurred by the Occupational Therapists themselves.

To facilitate your invoicing experience, an invoicing line item guide has been developed. This guide will be available at the bottom of the Occupational Therapists page on ICBC’s Business Partners page by mid-November. We encourage you to bookmark this page as a resource.  

Patient consent clarification reminder

It is important to discuss with your patient the purpose of the initial or reassessment report and ensure that you have received their consent to share the report with ICBC, consistent with your consent and information sharing guidelines. For more information, review our Patient consent considerations.

Please be aware that it is ICBC’s position that the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) does not override the Insurance (Vehicle) Act or its Regulation. While it is always preferred to receive information with client consent, there is a provision in PIPA, s. 18(1)(o), that allows disclosure of information without consent if the disclosure is required or authorized by law. When ICBC provides Occupational Therapists with a formal request letter, the Insurance (Vehicle) Act requires the OT to provide ICBC with reports containing medical information, to the extent that the information is known by the health care practitioner.

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