Diagnostic Services

In order to practise and be paid by MSP in most areas of diagnostic medicine, practitioners and diagnostic facilities require approval for payment by the Medical Services Commission (MSC) through an application process and accreditation by the Diagnostic Accreditation Program of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. These areas include:

• laboratory medicine (PDF 15Kb),
• diagnostic radiology (PDF 14Kb),
• diagnostic ultrasound (including TTE, TEE) (PDF 9Kb),
• nuclear medicine scanning (PDF 9Kb),
• polysomnography (PDF 6Kb),
• pulmonary function (PDF 28Kb),
• computerized axial tomography (CT, CAT),
• electromyography (PDF 10Kb), and
• electroencephalography (PDF 6Kb)

Billing & Fees

For quick reference, the documents above contain summaries of fee codes applicable to each of the facility approval categories. The fees for billing MSP-insured diagnostic services are listed in full in the Medical Services Commission Payment Schedule.

Advisory Committee on Diagnostic Facilities

The Advisory Committee on Diagnostic Facilities (ACDF) assists the MSC with the task of approving new diagnostic facilities. The ACDF consists of representatives jointly nominated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C., the Ministry of Health Services and the public. The ACDF reviews applications for approval for payment of diagnostic services such as medical laboratories and radiology units.

• ACDF Flow Chart of Approval Process (PDF 27Kb)
• ACDF Meeting Date (PDF 18Kb)
• ACDF Revised Terms of Reference (January 30, 2008) (PDF 33K)
• ACDF Guidelines for Recommending Approval/Denial when Reviewing Applications for New Diagnostic Facilities (PDF 68Kb)
• Medical Services Commission Diagnostic Facility Hearing Practices and Procedures (PDF 42Kb)

Legislation requires that written application for approval by the MSC for payment for diagnostic facility services must be made 60 days prior to the requested effective date. There is no routine backdating of approval dates. For more information on application for MSP payment, contact:

Administrator, Diagnostic Facilities
Medical Services Branch
3-1, 1515 Blanshard Street
Victoria, B.C. V8W 3C8

Tel: 250 952-3126
Fax: 250 952-2507

Annual Reports

• 2005/2006 ACDF Annual Report
• 2006/2007 ACDF Annual Report
• 2007/2008 ACDF Annual Report

Payment Policy

MSC's Telemetry Payment Policy (PDF 35Kb) outlines the mandatory billing requirements for submitting claims to MSP for medical imaging services interpreted by telemetry.

The form for physicians to assign payment for diagnostic services to a specific diagnostic facility or hospital is available online - go to Assignment of MSP Payments for Diagnostic Facility Services. For more information, see Assignment of Payment.

Other Policies

• Definitions Relative to Laboratory Approvals and MSP Policy Clarification of Laboratory Services in Physician Offices (PDF 203Kb)
• The MSC's Revised Electronic Storage of Diagnostic Facility Requisitions (PDF 65Kb) outlines the requirements for MSP payment of diagnostic services claims associated with requisitions that are stored electronically.
• MSC Sleep Laboratory Services (Polysomnography) for Adults - Standards for Waitlist Management and Access (PDF 61Kb)
• Minute to the Commission, Bone Densitometry (PDF 248Kb)
• MSC Echocardiography Approval Policy (PDF 32Kb)

Diagnostic Accreditation Program

Certain restrictions apply as to the training and credentials of individual physicians. All questions and requests for additional information can be directed to:

Executive Director
Diagnostic Accreditation Program
College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C.
501 - 777 West Broadway
Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 4J7

Tel: 604 739-6656 or 1 800 785-3277
Fax: 604 739-6659

Web site: www.dap.org

PDF Format

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