How Doctors of BC is reducing administrative burdens – WorkSafeBC and ICBC

Physicians face significant challenges with administrative burdens such as increased paperwork and billing. Doctors of BC is working with our members to help reduce this administrative toll, as part of our wider approach to finding solutions to systemic physician burdens.

In our Doctors of BC Policy Statement on Physician Burdens, we expressed our commitment to evaluate and minimize potential burdens identified by members.

Here is an example of just two of the areas where we are making a difference.

Improving WorkSafeBC billing processes

Physicians have expressed frustration with the labour-intensive and time-consuming billing process for WorkSafeBC cases. Both they and their MOAs expressed that searching for information on eligibility, waiting for approvals for expedited surgical premiums, and waiting again for WorkSafeBC follow-up is overly time-consuming. In response, Doctors of BC is working with WorkSafeBC to create summary dashboards so physicians can see what they were paid for, what’s been approved, and what has been rejected.

Doctors of BC was successful in requesting WorkSafeBC to increase the time allowed to bill for expedited surgical premiums to 40 days (from 20). To further reduce the challenges faced by physicians when billing WorkSafeBC, Doctors of BC is creating billing tips based on WorkSafeBC’s quarterly data reports. These tips will help physicians and MOAs reduce workload and avoid common billing errors. 

Reducing ICBC-related administrative challenges

To assist physicians in reducing the administrative burden of navigating the system while providing care to patients with injuries covered by ICBC, Doctors of BC worked closely with ICBC on new enhanced care coverage regulations. ICBC acknowledges the importance of reducing administrative hurdles in the system, and will be providing training and service design changes in response to physician feedback.

What’s next?

• Council on Health Economics and Policy (CHEP) has recently completed phase 3 of engagement to better understand how demands on physicians have changed over the course of pandemic.

• CHEP will be conducting further policy reviews and developing resources to address specific burdens that will impact BC doctors over the next year.

• Ensuring the recommendations in the physician burdens policy statement continue to be implemented:

  • Doctors of BC has updated the terms of reference for all internal committees so that members consider how their decisions may impact physician burdens.

  •  The JCCs have also started to consider burdens when developing their workplans and conducting their work.

• Doctors of BC has also launched Business Pathways, an initiative created to help members navigate the operational aspects of running a practice—find out more about how Business Pathways can help you.