Diagnostic Services
Temporary Moratorium on Applications for Diagnostic Outpatient Polysomnography Facilities (Updated February 27, 2019), please refer to the Announcements page.
For an update to the Pulmonary Function (Spirometry) Policy (Updated March 1, 2019), please refer to the Announcements page.
For important policy announcements and key decisions on applications that may affect your application, please refer to the Announcements page.
Outpatient diagnostic services are provided in approved facilities in both community and hospital settings. A diagnostic facility is defined as “a facility, place or office principally equipped for prescribed diagnostic services, studies or procedures, and includes any branches of a diagnostic facility.”
On this page...
- Diagnostic Facilities Administration
- Diagnostic Service Modalities
- Advisory Committee on Diagnostic Facilities
- Policies and Guidelines
- Assignment of Payment
- Payment Schedule, Categories, and Fee Items
- Doctors of BC/Ministry of Health Requisition Committee
Diagnostic Facilities Administration
Diagnostic Facilities Administration supports the application process for new, expansion and relocation of publicly-owned and privately-owned outpatient diagnostic facilities through the Advisory Committee on Diagnostic Facilities (ACDF), a committee of the Medical Services Commission (MSC).
As of May 1, 2018, responsibility for the complete Assignment of Payment (AOP) process for outpatient diagnostic medicine facilities will be moving to Health Insurance BC. The AOP process links medical practitioners to an MSC/ACDF approved facility, for the purpose of billing BC’s Medical Services Plan for outpatient diagnostic services. For more information, please see Assignment Of Payment page for further details.
Diagnostic Service Modalities
The following modalities, within the Medical Services Commission’s Payment Schedule, have been deemed ‘restricted.’ Any facility that wishes to provide and bill BC’s Medical Services Plan for these services requires approval from the Advisory Committee on Diagnostic Facilities or the Medical Services Commission. The restricted diagnostic modalities include:
- diagnostic radiology
- diagnostic ultrasound (including TTE & TEE)
- nuclear medicine scanning
- polysomnography
- pulmonary function
- electromyography (EMG)
- electroencephalography (EEG)
For information on laboratory services including the Laboratory Services Payment Schedule; Schedules of Benefits for Referring Practitioners; Facility Approval Applications; and Operator Payment Administration forms, please see: www.gov.bc.ca/laboratoryservices.
Advisory Committee on Diagnostic Facilities
The Advisory Committee on Diagnostic Facilities is a committee of the Medical Services Commission that provides advice, assistance, and recommendations to support the Medical Services Commission’s powers, duties, and functions in relation to outpatient diagnostic services and facilities.
Any publicly or privately-owned diagnostic facility in British Columbia intending to bill BC’s Medical Services Plan for outpatient services, must first apply for a new, relocation, or expansion Certificate of Approval.
- Learn more about the Advisory Committee on Diagnostic Facilities
- Check here for final decisions concerning application approvals or denials:
Key Decisions Made by the Committee - Committee Meeting Schedule
- Application Forms
Policies and Guidelines
- Policies and Guidelines for Diagnostic Outpatient Facilities
- Temporary Moratorium on Diagnostic Outpatient Ultrasound Facilities for new, expansion or relocation applications
Assignment of Payment
As of May 1, 2018, Health Insurance BC is responsible for full approval and processing of Diagnostic Services’ Assignment of Payment (AOP) forms.
AOP forms are legal documents by which an attending practitioner designates his/her fee-for-service payments to another party (generally, their employer) in order to bill the Medical Service Plan for approved services. Once a facility receives Committee approval, AOP forms must be submitted to allow payment for the approved services.
Payment Schedule, Categories, and Fee Items
Payment to approved diagnostic facilities is on a fee-for-service basis and is facilitated through the Diagnostic Services Assignment of Payment process.
Doctors of BC/Ministry of Health Requisition Committee
The Doctors of BC and the Ministry of Health Working Committee to Review Standard Outpatient Requisition Forms and Related Issues (Requisition Committee) is a joint committee that provides oversight for the development and maintenance of standard outpatient requisitions for insured diagnostic services in accordance with regulatory requirements. Final approval of standard outpatient requisition forms rests with the Medical Services Commission.
