What you should know about the 2022-2025 Doctors of BC-WorkSafeBC Physician Services Agreement

In March 2024, Doctors of BC and WorkSafeBC signed the 2022-2025 Physicians and Surgeons’ WorkSafeBC Services Agreement which covers negotiated WorkSafeBC fee increases, as well as changes to reduce the administrative time it takes physicians when caring for patients with a work-related injury. With the agreement now implemented by WorkSafeBC, here are the key changes that physicians need to know.

Agreement highlights

Before negotiations started, Doctors of BC met with Section representatives and asked members to identify their priority areas, which have been incorporated into the settlement. Physicians also attended informational webinars to learn more about the benefits and changes to this agreement and ask questions. The agreement maintains the key protections of the WorkSafeBC Physician Services Agreement and includes:

• At least $6,022,000/year in new annual funding by the final year of agreement
• An overall 14.5% increase over the compensation base for WSBC managed fees by the end of the contract, plus another 1% in the third year if the BC inflation rate is high

Key changes to know

• Anesthesiologists will no longer be required to submit a Record of Anesthesia with each submission for payment from WorkSafeBC.
• There is a new fee item for Form 8 (19937) when received electronically by WorkSafeBC within 2 business days from the date of service. You can find fee information in the Unique Fee Schedule.
• WorkSafeBC will pay physicians for up to 18 Form 11s while deliberating on the approval of a patient’s claim.
• Fee codes 19909 and 19910 have been eliminated and replaced with the following new fee codes:
  
  • Fee code 19978 – Pre-operative or Standardized Assessment Form
  • Fee code 19977 - Opioid Extension Form.

Fee rates will vary depending on submission within 15 business days, or after 15 business days.

• A nurse practitioner may be able to may make a referral for Initial and Repeat Expedited Comprehensive Consultation. Referrals may also be made to a physician with areas of expertise, in addition to a specialist physician.
• Upon request, WorkSafeBC will consider approving one additional 19953 fee code (up to two codes total), where physicians need to spend a significant amount of time complying with WorkSafeBC’s chart note requests.

Where to find more information

The agreement is effective as of April 1, 2022, and fees will be paid retroactively to that date. You can read the full WorkSafe BC Services Agreement to learn more, including details that may be relevant to you. You can also visit our WorkSafeBC Agreements webpage or email View Email Addressworksafebc@doctorsofbc.ca with any questions you may have.