Spotlight: Massage therapy and chiropractic services

Massage therapy services

Massage therapy services are also available to injured workers with accepted claims. For injured workers to receive massage therapy treatment, they will need a referral from their physician before seeking treatment.

If the worker's claim is accepted and they have received a referral letter from their attending physician, they can receive up to six massage therapy treatments within the first eight weeks from the date of injury. If massage therapy treatment is initiated after the first eight weeks from the date of injury, the massage therapy provider will need to contact the claim owner for approval prior to commencing massage therapy treatment.

A list of registered massage therapy (RMTs) providers that work with WorkSafeBC claimants is available on the Registered Massage Therapists Association of BC website.

Please note: While we are highlighting that both massage therapy and chiropractic services are covered as part of an injured worker’s claim, it is still the case that approval is generally provided for only one treatment at a time. If as a provider, you become aware that the injured worker is receiving more than one treatment then the WorkSafeBC claim owner should be contacted for clarification.

Chiropractic services

Chiropractic services are available to injured workers with accepted and pending claims. Injured workers do not need a referral for treatment with a chiropractor and can start right away if an injury occurs at work.

WorkSafeBC will cover the first two treatments on pending claims to help injured workers receive immediate treatment for their workplace injuries. If the claim is later accepted, injured workers may receive up to eight weeks of chiropractic treatment from the initial assessment date, if treatment begins within eight weeks from the date of injury. Accepted WorkSafeBC claims do not require prior authorization for chiropractic treatment if the initial date of service is within the first eight weeks from the date of injury.

To get started, injured workers will need to inform the chiropractic provider that their injury is work related and whether or not they have initiated a claim with WorkSafeBC. If the injured worker has a claim number, it should be provided during the initial assessment to ensure chiropractic reports are submitted in a timely manner to avoid delays in decisions and payments.

Treatment extensions are available but must be submitted to the claim in writing and must be authorized by the claim owner to proceed with further treatments.

A list of chiropractors who accept WorkSafeBC injured workers is available on the BC Chiropractor Association's website.

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For resources, please visit our Health Care Providers page. If you have questions about your contracted services, please contact us at HCSINQU@worksafebc.com.