MSP is the provincial insurance program that pays for required medical services. These include medically necessary services provided by physicians and midwives, dental and oral surgery performed in a hospital, eye examinations if medically required and some orthodontic services. In addition, MSP pay for diagnostic services including x-rays. For information on laboratory service benefits under the Laboratory Services Act, visit the Laboratory Services website.
Other services that may be covered by MSP include supplementary benefits provided by other health care practitioners. These include acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathy, physical therapy and non-surgical podiatry.
Medical Benefits
Medically required services you receive from physicians and midwives are medical benefits of MSP, as are diagnostic services including x-rays. Learn about medical benefits covered under MSP.
Supplementary Health Care Benefits
Supplementary benefits are different from medical benefits. These services are provided by health care practitioners other than physicians or midwives. Learn about the range of supplementary health care benefits covered under MSP for eligible individuals. Read more to find out if you are eligible for assistance with the cost of these benefits.
Extra Billing
Extra billing involves charging an MSP beneficiary or their representative for a benefit covered by MSP, or for any matter related to the rendering of a medical necessary benefit, unless otherwise permitted by the Medicare Protection Act or by the Medical Services Commission. Benefits covered by MSP are charged directly to MSP. More information can be found on “Additional Fees and Charges” page:
Only those MSP beneficiaries with supplementary benefits status qualify for MSP coverage of massage therapy services. To verify a patient’s eligibility for these benefits, use the Teleplan online eligibility check feature or call Coverage Enquiries.
Enrolment
Massage therapists who are licensed by the College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC) are eligible to enrol with MSP and obtain MSP billing numbers.
Enrolment status, and, therefore, the possession of an active billing number, is contingent upon the practitioner’s continued licensure by the CMTBC. Any change in licensure, such as the renewal of a temporary license or specialty, must be reported to MSP to avoid refusal of claims.
Enrolled Massage Therapists
Licensed massage therapists who register with MSP are called “enrolled” massage therapists. Enrolled massage therapists may choose to be “opted-in” or “opted-out”.
Opted-in massage therapists must bill MSP directly for all required services provided to MSP beneficiaries. Opted-in massage therapists are prohibited by legislation from charging MSP beneficiaries more than the amount paid by MSP for an MSP-insured service.
Opted-out massage therapists have elected to bill patients directly for insured services. Although opted-out massage therapists may choose to submit claims to MSP on behalf of patients who are MSP beneficiaries, MSP reimburses the beneficiaries directly for those insured services.
Massage Therapists Who Are Not Enrolled
The services of a non-enrolled or de-enrolled massage therapist are not benefits of MSP. These services can be billed directly to the patient for an amount more than that set in the massage therapy payment schedule, provided the patient is advised of the practitioner’s payment protocol before the service is rendered.
Assignment of a Billing Number
Each practitioner enrolled with MSP is assigned a billing number consisting of two numbers:
- a practitioner number, which identifies the practitioner rendering the service, and
- a payment number, which identifies the person or group (e.g. clinic, hospital) to which payment is to be made.
The practitioner and payment numbers are usually the same. However, they differ in cases where a practitioner designates another practitioner or a group, such as a clinic or hospital, to receive that practitioner’s MSP fee-for-service payments. See Assignment of Payment.
All claims submitted to MSP must include the practitioner number of the practitioner who performed the service; therefore, a practitioner cannot bill under another practitioner’s number. The practitioner whose number appears on the MSP claim assumes full responsibility for the service provided.
Applying for a Billing Number
Massage therapists wishing to obtain a billing number from MSP must follow a clearly defined process.
- You must first request licensure from the College of Massage Therapists.
- You must complete and submit the following application form:
- Practitioner Registration (HLTH 2848
) (PDF, 126KB)
- Practitioner Registration (HLTH 2848
Change of Address or Licence
If you change your address or telephone number, or if there is a change in your specialty or licence status, you must advise MSP so that your records can be updated accordingly. Timely notification of changes enables MSP to provide practitioners with accurate and efficient service and helps prevent unnecessary refusal of claims.
De-enrolment and Opting Out
A massage therapist may:
- enrol with MSP (if licensed with the appropriate licensing body); or
- once enrolled, opt out of MSP; or
- once enrolled, de-enrol from MSP (cancel the enrolment); or
- not enrol with MSP.
Notifying Patients
If a massage therapist intends to require their patients to pay all or a portion of the costs of a service, he or she must inform the patient, prior to rendering the service:
- that the patient will be required to pay part or all of the cost directly;
- the amount the patient will be required to pay; and
- the amount the patient can expect to be reimbursed by MSP.
Preamble and Payment Schedule
- This includes as insured services the services of massage therapists who are registered members in good standing with the College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia, and licensed under the Health Professions Act, when rendered in the Province of British Columbia to insured persons as prescribed in #2 below.
- Massage therapy services will be an insured benefit only for beneficiaries with Medical Services Plan (MSP) supplementary benefits status.
- Payment for massage therapy services insured under MSP can be claimed as follows:
09948 Massage Therapy Service………………………….$23.00
Notes:
- This item is applicable only to patients who have MSP supplementary benefits status.
- Subject to i) above, acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathic, non-surgical podiatry, and physical therapy services are benefits up to a combined maximum of 10 visits per patient per calendar year.
- Only payable if an adequate clinical record has been created and maintained for the service being claimed.
(…)
Complete Preamble and Payment Schedule:
MSP Payment Schedule: Massage Therapy Services (PDF, 83KB)
ICBC Payment Schedule
Massage Therapists are required to apply for an ICBC Supplier Account number and will invoice ICBC directly using the ICBC standardized invoice. Teleplan no longer processes any motor vehicle related services. For more information contact Bodily Injury Services at (604) 647-6138.
Is my visit to a RMT covered by insurance?
Many RMTs can direct bill your extended health plan. Patients may have extended health benefits through a workplace group insurance plan that covers massage therapy provided by an RMT. Coverage varies as does the requirement of a physician’s referral. Please check with your plan. Insurance plans in British Columbia include:
B.C. MEDICAL SERVICES PLAN
At present, a typical visit to a RMT is not covered by the BC Medical Services Plan. However, patients approved by MSP for Premium Assistance can claim part of the cost of their massage therapy treatment through their British Columbia Medical Services Plan (MSP). Premium Assistant Patients are entitled to 10 total visits per calendar year to supplementary health care providers and will be responsible to covering the remaining cost of their visit. If you are eligible for Premium Assistance, MSP will pay $23 towards your treatment.
EXTENDED HEALTH CARE WORKPLACE BENEFIT PLANS
If your workplace offers an extended health care plan such as Pacific Blue Cross, Sunlife, Manulife, Greenshields and others, it may cover RMT visits. Please check with your plan administrator for details regarding your specific plan.
ICBC
If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, ICBC may cover your RMT treatment(s). For the first 12 weeks after your accident, you can receive treatment from a RMT for up to 12 visits. RMTs may bill ICBC directly, so you won’t have to submit receipts for reimbursement or be out of pocket. Some RMTs fees may exceed amounts covered by ICBC — if you have other insurance coverage (for example, with your employer), it may cover the difference. ICBC will cover up to $110.00 for your initial visit and $83.00 for up to 12 subsequent visits. Additional visits maybe available, please contact your adjuster. More information can be obtained through the ICBC website at
ICBC Claims Injury Medical Care Treatment.aspx
WORKSAFE BC
If your claim has been accepted for coverage, WorkSafeBC covers injured workers for their visits to a Registered Massage Therapist. Your RMT can provide an initial assessment and up to six treatments within the first eight weeks from the date of injury without pre-approval. You can not receive concurrent treatment for the same injury. Approval from WorkSafeBC is required for any treatment beyond eight weeks. Only the area of injury accepted on the claim can be treated. Treatment time is at the discretion of the RMT for what is clinically appropriate for the injury on the accepted claim. WorkSafeBC will not pay for more than one 45 minute treatment per day up .
WorkSafeBC will pay for 15 minute increments up to three units or 45 minutes per day. Each unit is $23.50. You will be required to provide your claim number at your first appointment.
VETERANS AFFAIRS (DVA)
RMT visits may be covered by the Department of Veteran Affairs for Canadian Veterans. Check with your DVA adjudicator.
RCMP
RCMP members have $4800 total in benefit coverage per calendar year to cover all supplementary health benefits including chiropractor, physiotherapy, massage therapy and acupuncture.
PRIVATE HEALTH CARE INSURANCE PROVIDERS
There are many insurance providers who offer extended health care benefits to individuals, families and/or groups. These can be found by researching the web for Private Health Insurance providers in BC.
