If you've been injured in a motor vehicle accident in British Columbia, you may be able to begin treatment right away.

Under ICBC's Enhanced Care program, eligible patients have access to pre-approved treatment for the first 12 weeks following a crash. You do not need a referral from a family doctor or nurse practitioner to begin these pre-approved treatments. You will need your ICBC claim number and Personal Health Number (PHN).

At ProSpine Rehab & Wellness in Vancouver, our team can help make the process straightforward so you can focus on getting back to your normal activities.

[BOOK YOUR ICBC APPOINTMENT]

What Does ICBC Cover?

For the first 12 weeks after your accident, ICBC currently provides pre-approved access to several types of rehabilitation treatment.

ICBC Chiropractic & Kinesiology Coverage

Eligible patients can access the following pre-approved treatments within the first 12 weeks after a motor vehicle accident, without a doctor’s referral:

• Chiropractic: Up to 25 visits

• Kinesiology: Up to 12 visits

At ProSpine Rehab & Wellness, we offer chiropractic care and active rehabilitation with our kinesiologist. Your treatment plan is tailored to your injuries, needs, and recovery progress—not every patient needs all available visits.

Please bring your ICBC claim number and Personal Health Number (PHN) to your first appointment.

At ProSpine, the services most relevant to your recovery may include chiropractic care and active rehabilitation/kinesiology, depending on your injuries and clinical needs.

Important

These are maximum pre-approved treatment numbers, not a requirement that every injured person use every session.

Your treatment should be based on your injuries, progress and individual recovery needs.

Do I Need a Doctor's Referral?

No — not during the initial pre-approved period.

For the treatments listed above, ICBC states that you do not need a referral from a family physician or nurse practitioner and do not need individual ICBC approval before beginning treatment during the initial 12 weeks.

You can start treatment once you have reported your accident and received your ICBC claim number.

What Should I Bring to My First Appointment?

To make your first visit as smooth as possible, please have:

Your ICBC claim number
Your Personal Health Number (PHN)
Date of your accident
Your ICBC recovery specialist's information, if available

It can also be helpful to bring any relevant:

• X-ray, CT or MRI reports

• Hospital or emergency department paperwork

• Medication information

• Previous medical reports

• Information about other treatment you have already received

You do not need to have imaging before coming to see us unless another healthcare provider has specifically recommended it.

What Happens at Your First ICBC Chiropractic Visit?

1. We Talk About the Accident

Your chiropractor will ask what happened during the collision and how your symptoms have changed since the accident.

We may discuss:

Direction of impact • Immediate symptoms • Current pain • Headaches • Numbness or tingling • Work limitations • Sleep • Driving • Exercise • Daily activities

Understanding what you could do before the accident—and what is difficult now—is an important part of planning your recovery.

2. Physical Examination

Your assessment may include evaluation of:

Neck and back movement • Joint mobility • Muscle function • Neurological function • Strength • Reflexes • Sensation • Orthopedic testing • Functional movement

The examination is adapted to your symptoms and injuries.

3. Imaging When Clinically Appropriate

Not every motor vehicle accident requires X-rays.

However, if your history or examination indicates that imaging may be appropriate, ProSpine has access to in-house digital X-ray imaging.

If more advanced imaging such as MRI or CT is required, we can discuss appropriate next steps.

4. We Explain Our Findings

Before beginning treatment, we explain what we found and which areas appear to be contributing to your symptoms.

We'll discuss:

• What we think may be happening

• Your recovery goals

• Which treatments may be appropriate

• Activities you can continue

• Activities that may temporarily need modification

• What you can do at home

You should understand why we are recommending treatment—not simply be told to return for appointments.

What Can ICBC Chiropractic Treatment Include?

Treatment depends on your examination findings and comfort level.

Your care may include:

Chiropractic Adjustments

Joint manipulation or mobilization may be used when appropriate to help improve movement and function.

Gentle Mobilization

For patients who are very sore after an accident, lower-force techniques may initially be more appropriate.

Soft-Tissue Treatment

Muscles around the neck, shoulders, back and hips may become tight or sensitive following a collision.

Mobility & Stretching

Appropriate exercises may be introduced to help restore comfortable movement.

Rehabilitation Exercises

As symptoms settle, strengthening and functional exercises may become an increasingly important part of treatment.

Education

We can help you understand how to manage sitting, sleeping, driving, working and gradually returning to physical activity.

Active Rehabilitation & Kinesiology

Recovery following a collision is not necessarily just about receiving passive treatment.

ICBC specifically encourages a balance between passive and active rehabilitation, noting that active treatment is intended to help restore physical function.

At ProSpine, eligible ICBC patients may also work with a kinesiologist on areas such as:

Mobility • Strength • Core stability • Balance • Movement control • Functional exercises • Return to activity

ICBC currently provides 12 pre-approved kinesiology visits during the first 12 weeks.

Common Injuries After a Car Accident

We commonly assess musculoskeletal complaints such as:

• Whiplash-associated neck pain

• Neck stiffness

• Headaches associated with neck injury

• Upper-back pain

• Lower-back pain

• Shoulder discomfort

• Muscle tension

• Hip and pelvic discomfort

• Reduced range of motion

• Difficulty sitting or driving

• Difficulty returning to exercise

• Radiating arm or leg symptoms

Motor vehicle accidents can produce different injuries in different people, so treatment should be based on your individual examination rather than the amount of visible vehicle damage.

Will ICBC Pay ProSpine Directly?

ICBC's Recovery Network allows participating healthcare providers to direct bill ICBC for eligible pre-approved treatments.

This can reduce the amount of insurance paperwork you have to manage yourself.

If a healthcare provider charges more than ICBC's approved amount, ICBC states that the difference may be the patient's responsibility and is not reimbursed by ICBC.

Our team can explain any applicable fees before treatment.

What Happens After the First 12 Weeks?

Still having symptoms? Your care doesn't necessarily stop at 12 weeks.

If your injuries require treatment beyond the initial pre-approved period, you may qualify for an extension of benefits.

Your healthcare provider can assess your progress and communicate your ongoing treatment needs to your ICBC recovery specialist. ICBC may then approve additional treatment when appropriate.

For more complex injuries, ICBC may sometimes request additional assessment before determining ongoing benefits.

Stay in Contact With Your ICBC Recovery Specialist

ICBC recommends staying in touch with your recovery specialist approximately every two to three weeks, even when recovery is progressing normally.

Let them know if:

• Your symptoms change

• You're having difficulty working

• Your treatment plan changes

• You require additional treatment

• You return to your previous activities

• Your healthcare provider recommends additional services

What If I Was Injured While Working?

If you were working at the time of the crash—for example, driving for work—WorkSafeBC may be the primary payer rather than ICBC.

ICBC advises patients injured while working to report the injury to WorkSafeBC.

Let our front desk know if your accident occurred while you were working.

Do Cyclists and Pedestrians Receive ICBC Coverage?

Yes.

People injured as cyclists or pedestrians in a collision involving a motor vehicle may also qualify for ICBC care and recovery benefits.

You should still report the accident to ICBC and obtain a claim number before beginning treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How soon after my accident should I come in?

You do not have to wait until the end of the 12-week period. ICBC encourages injured patients to begin appropriate treatment during the initial pre-approved period.

Do I need a lawyer before I start treatment?

No. A lawyer is not required in order to access the pre-approved health treatments available through ICBC Enhanced Care.

Do I need an X-ray?

Not automatically. Imaging should be based on your history and clinical examination.

Can I receive chiropractic and kinesiology at the same time?

They are separate categories of pre-approved care under ICBC. Whether using both is appropriate depends on your injuries and recovery needs.

What if I haven't reported my accident yet?

Report the accident to ICBC first so you can receive your claim number, which your healthcare provider will need for ICBC billing.

What if I'm still in pain after 12 weeks?

Speak with your healthcare provider. If further treatment is clinically appropriate, your provider can communicate with your ICBC recovery specialist about requesting additional benefits.

Injured in a Motor Vehicle Accident?

You don't have to figure out the entire treatment process yourself.

At ProSpine Rehab & Wellness, we'll assess your injuries, explain your options and help you understand the next steps in your ICBC recovery.

ProSpine Rehab & Wellness
Vancouver, BC
778-805-8188
info@prospinevan.ca

[BOOK YOUR ICBC APPOINTMENT]