Overview

New Musculoskeletal Program of Care,
Timelines and Registration

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) introduced a new harmonized Musculoskeletal (MSK) Program of Care (POC) on April 3, 2023.  Developed in consultation with the OCA and other health care associations, this new POC replaces the previous low back, shoulder, and MSK programs of care — as well as the non-surgical fracture episode of care — with one harmonized program for both single and multiple MSK injuries.

The new MSK POC is the mandatory first line of care to help people with MSK injuries recover and return to or stay at work. It’s been streamlined to enable earlier access to care and minimize administrative burdens for health care professionals. Among the changes to the program are updated report templates, bundled fees and outcome measures.

Timelines

  • Effective Monday, May 1, 2023, all first line care for MSK injuries will be provided through the new MSK POC.
  • Chiropractors and other eligible health care providers must register for this new program by April 30, 2023 to ensure continuity of service (even if they were registered in any of the prior programs).
  • Patients who started treatment in the previous low back, shoulder, and MSK programs of care or the non-surgical fracture episode of care prior to April 3, 2023, should remain in those programs until completion.
Please note due to the increased number of inquiries about the new MSK POC to the Clinical Expert Line, you may experience longer wait times. The WSIB’s clinical expert team is aware of this delay and is working to ensure a more effective live call answer is in place over the next few days. In the meantime, please be assured that as long as you register for the program online, you are able to deliver the new program as of May 1, 2023. (Kindly note that once you register there may be a delay before your provider information is posted on WSIB’s website).

How to Register

You must complete your registration for the new MSK POC via this Musculoskeletal Program of Care webpage on the WSIB website.

On WSIB’s webpage you’ll find:

  • Key components of the new POC
  • Admission criteria
  • Requirements to deliver the POC
  • Reporting documentation and instructions
  • Registration requirements and links to register
  • Additional resources (such as reference guides, fee schedule, billing tips, FAQs, and outcome measures)

‘The New Musculoskeletal Program of Care’ Webinar

To give chiropractors a more in-depth look at the new MSK POC, we co-hosted a live webinar with the WSIB that provided a thorough overview, including what’s changing and what this means for you and your practice, on March 22, 2023. Attendees also had an opportunity to ask questions during the Q&A.

To register for the new MSK POC, you need to confirm with WSIB that you attended this live webinar or watched the on-demand version, which you can access via the button below:

Helping to Advance the Chiropractic Profession

In support of advancing the profession and helping to ensure all Ontarians receive the expert MSK care they need, we’re making our on-demand New Musculoskeletal Program of Care webinar with its important details accessible to all chiropractors across Ontario for a limited time only.

This continuing education (CE) webinar is one of many offered each week to our members. To learn about OCA’s other services, programs, and resources to help members enhance their patient care, expand their clinical expertise and build a thriving practice, please visit this Member Benefits webpage.

We encourage you to take advantage of WSIB’s new MSK POC and register by April 30 to avoid an interruption of service. To help optimize chiropractic registration in this new program, please to share this information with your chiropractic colleagues via a link to this web page.

Questions?

For more in-depth details about WSIB’s new MSK POC and extensive resources, please check WSIB’s New Musculoskeletal Program of Care webpage.

If you have any questions about the new MSK POC, please contact the WSIB Clinical Expert Line at 416-344-5739 or toll-free 1-866-716-1299 (from Monday to Friday, between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.).