ICBC


In my June BCMJ article, I introduced my patient Bob. He had been rear-ended in a motor vehicle collision, and I reviewed existing medical literature for evidence to develop an initial treatment plan. At the outset, Bob and his lawyer had requested magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of his head and neck. This article deals with MRI requests. I will revisit the Official Disability Guidelines (ODG) for evidence to direct the appropriate use of MRI. 

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At 4 p.m. one Friday afternoon, my receptionist asked me to fit in a patient who had been in a motor vehicle accident (MVA) that morning. He was at a hospital emergency room where there was a 5-hour wait. 

Bob (not his real name) had been my patient for 20 years. He had called earlier, but I was fully booked and needed to leave the office on time for my son’s hockey practice. My receptionist had suggested he try the local walk-in clinic or a hospital. By the time Bob got to a walk-in clinic it was 3 p.m. and the doctor had left after reaching his daily maximum. 

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Dr Leon Bard, a GP in North Vancouver, recently asked for clarity regarding ICBC requests for patient records.

“Why does ICBC ask the physician to produce copies of complete medical records that often precede the motor vehicle accident when the ICBC release form states that the authorization only authorizes the release of information pertaining to the injuries sustained in the motor vehicle accident?”

Dr Bard raises an important yet often confusing issue for many physicians.

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The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia is one of Canada’s largest property and casualty insurers and one of BC’s largest corporations. ICBC was established in 1973 under the Insurance Corporation Act as the sole provider of compulsory basic auto insurance in BC. ICBC’s basic rates are set and regulated by the BC Utilities Commission.

Insurance and driver services

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This is the third in a series of articles on BC physicians and ICBC working together to resolve bodily injuries caused in motor vehicle crashes.

In my first article I invited physicians to e-mail me at martin.ray@icbc.com. Dr Ralph Jones in Chilliwack, who has a general practice and specializes in mental health care, recently asked me to clarify ICBC’s responsibilities for medical coverage in order to understand why some medical claims are paid by ICBC and others are not.

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