Enrolment

Podiatrists who are licensed by the College of Podiatric Surgeons of British Columbia (CPodSBC) 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 CPodSBC. Any change in licensure, such as the renewal of a temporary license or specialty, must be reported to MSP to avoid refusal of claims.

Enroled Podiatrists

Licensed podiatrists who register with MSP are called "enroled" podiatrists. Enroled podiatrists may choose to be "opted-in" or "opted-out".

Opted-in podiatrists must bill MSP directly for all required services provided to MSP beneficiaries. Opted-in podiatrists are prohibited by legislation from charging MSP beneficiaries more than the amount paid by MSP for an MSP-insured service.

Opted-out podiatrists have elected to bill patients directly for insured services. Although opted-out podiatrists may choose to submit claims to MSP on behalf of patients who are MSP beneficiaries, MSP reimburses the beneficiaries directly for those insured services.

• Opting Out of MSP

Podiatrists Who Are Not Enroled

The services of a non-enroled or de-enroled podiatrist are not benefits of MSP. These services can be billed directly to the patient for an amount more than that set in the podiatry 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 enroled 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

Podiatrists wishing to obtain a billing number from MSP must follow a clearly defined process.

1. You must first request licensure from the College of Podiatric Surgeons.
2. You must complete and submit the following application form:

• Application for MSP Billing Number (Physicians) (HLTH 2991) (PDF, 140KB)

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 podiatrist may:

• enrol with MSP (if licensed with the appropriate licensing body); or
• once enroled, opt out of MSP; or
• once enroled, de-enrol from MSP (cancel the enrolment); or
• not enrol with MSP.

Notifying Patients

If a podiatrist 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.