In the Netherlands, car accident victims will soon be able to receive treatment without prior approval from their insurance company

Sarah Stoodley, minister for digital government and services in the Netherlands, says patients can be pre-approved for 10 to 21 appointments with a doctor. (Danny Arsenault/CBC)

The government of Newfoundland and Labrador is introducing new motor vehicle insurance protocols that will allow people injured in car accidents to receive medical treatment without first obtaining approval from an insurance company.

Sarah Stoodley, minister for digital government and services in the Netherlands, told reporters on Tuesday morning that the new protocols will allow car accident victims to receive immediate treatment for the “most common” types of injuries: whiplash, sprains and strains.

Patients could be pre-approved for 10 to 21 appointments with a doctor, Stoodley says, and the treating provider would bill the insurance company directly.

“This means that if you have a car accident, you will get treatment faster and you won’t have to pay out of pocket,” Stoodley said at a news conference Tuesday morning. The new protocols will take effect on December 2.

Optional for healthcare providers

Stoodley said participation in the new protocols would be optional for patients and treatment providers, but the government hoped that “most, if not all, will commit to providing this service.”

However, this is mandatory for insurance companies. According to Stoodley, healthcare providers receive the same rates as WorkplaceNL when they bill directly to insurance companies.

“It’s going to mean a lot of work for the insurance companies,” Stoodley said. “We’ve had discussions with them, but Alberta and Nova Scotia have already done it, so they can basically copy what’s happening there.”

The government will communicate with physical therapists, chiropractors, massage therapists and other health care providers, Stoodley said, to ensure they are aware of and following the new protocols.

When people see a doctor after an accident, the doctor will develop a rapid treatment plan and then pre-approve the patient’s admission, she said.

The number of appointments allowed depends on the severity of the accident, said Stoodley. Patients do not have to pay for between 10 and 21 appointments out of their own pocket.

The new protocol, called Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols, is the result of the Public Utilities Board’s 2019 motor insurance review – the last recommended change from the review to be implemented.

“I think most doctors will choose to do this,” Stoodley said. “Of course, they’ll have to fill out some paperwork first, but once they get through that, it should be smooth sailing and the insurance companies will be fully on board.”

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