Ontario introduces central agency for processing accident benefit claims

The Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) has released its Health Claims for Auto Insurance (HCAI) Rollout Guideline, which includes, among other things, a Central Processing Agency (CPA) – an agency designated to receive accident benefit claims forms on behalf of insurers.

“The HCAI Rollout Guideline currently applies only to participating insurers and health care providers,” FSCO noted in an online posting on its Web site.

“Companies, health care providers and facilities that have not signed up to participate in the HCAI Rollout will continue to use the standard methods of forms delivery set out in the SABS.”

But by Feb. 1, 2008, FSCO says, “all insurers and health care providers will be required to participate in the HCAI system. At that time, an amended version of the guideline will be issued to reflect the requirement.”

In a nutshell, the HCAI Rollout Guideline enables the transmission of certain accident benefit claims forms between health care providers and insurers by way of the CPA.

In addition to receiving forms, the CPA will confirm that forms are completed and then make this information available to the insurers to whom they are addressed.

The CPA will also enable insurers to communicate claims approval and payment decisions to health care providers.

Health care providers or facilities that wish to submit and receive information through the CPA must first enroll with the CPA and agree to specific terms and conditions.

The terms and conditions deal with confidentiality, security, liability, access and data integrity.