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WorkSafeBC

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Home IV/Wound Care Services

Description of services

Home infusion therapy (Home IV) is the administration of medications using intravenous and subcutaneous routes (into the bloodstream and under the skin). For example: antibiotics, immune globulin (IVIG), pain management, steroids, and many other therapies.

Wound Care Services are needed when skin deterioration or infections occur. Wound care management promotes optimal skin health, minimizes risk of infection and alleviates pain to improve skin integrity and health. For example: post surgery wound from suture/staple removal, pressure ulcer care, and burn and graft site management.

Admission criteria

  • Home IV: the individual requires ongoing intravenous antibiotics but does not need to be hospitalized
  • Wound care: the existence of a post-surgical wound, acute wound, and/or chronic wound (pressure, vascular, neuropathic ulcers)

WorkSafeBC has a contracted network of home care providers (PDF 174kb) who have registered nurses available to provide Wound Care and Home IV Services to our injured workers.

If the need for service is urgent or critical and a WorkSafeBC claim has not yet been filed, the health authority may provide the necessary service on an interim basis until liability has been established and a WorkSafeBC claim has been accepted.

It is the responsibility of the individual to inform the health authority of the existence, or possibility of a WorkSafeBC claim. The individual should be referred to WorkSafeBC to establish responsibility for funding of services.

In the event that an alternate wound care/home IV nurse cannot be provided by our contracted network (e.g. lack of availability of a trained nurse), WorkSafeBC may require the assistance of the health authority to provide these services on a temporary or ongoing basis, as needed.

Recommendations for involvement of other disciplines and health care professionals can be made to WorkSafeBC.

Length of program

Length of program is variable depending on wound healing or IV treatment plan.

Outcomes

  • Improved quality of wound/home IV care
  • Increased access to wound/home IV clinicians
  • Cost effective, due to earlier discharge from the hospital
  • Care in the comfort of the individual’s home

Billing

The health authority is to invoice WorkSafeBC directly for services based on the fee schedule below and by using the Hospital Account form (PDF 159kb).

To check the status of an invoice payment from WorkSafeBC online, go to Check invoice payment status.

Medical supplies

Any required IV supplies should be ordered through Calea by calling 604 294-1500.

Calea has a very quick response time for supplies (an order placed by 12:00 noon is to be delivered the same day by 6:00 pm).

If the health authority and/or Calea learns after the fact that it is a WorkSafeBC claim, Calea will credit the health authority and re-bill WorkSafeBC directly.

For all other supplies, WorkSafeBC prefers direct billing by Medical Supply Service Providers; however, in the event that stock supplies were used and reimbursement from WorkSafeBC is required, please invoice using the fee code below.

Reporting

Please use form 83D51(Generic Report) for reporting, such as the reports listed below. This form is available in PDF: Generic Report – Medical and Health Care form (PDF 46kb) or Word: Generic Report – Medical and Health Care form (MS Word 110kb).

  • Initial assessment report
  • Progress reports as discussed with nurse advisor or WorkSafeBC officer
  • Discharge report

Fee schedule

Service Business rules Fee
Wound care
Initial wound assessment
fee code - 19890
  • Billed in thirty (30) minute increments
  • Billed only once per injured worker
  • Inclusive of:
    • Case review and consultation with relevant stakeholders
    • Care plan development
    • Treatment
    • Initial assessment report
    • Travel time and expenses
 $45.00 per 30-minute increment
($90.00 per hour)
Wound care treatment
fee code - 19891
  • Billed in thirty (30) minute increments
  • Inclusive of:
    • Treatment
    • Ordering supplies
    • Consultation with relevant stakeholders, as required
    • Progress and discharge reports
    • Travel time and expenses
 $45.00 per 30-minute increment
($90.00 per hour)
Home IV therapy
Home IV visit
fee code - 19893
  • Billed in thirty (30) minute increments
  • Inclusive of:
    • Initial assessment report
    • Treatment
    • Ordering supplies
    • Consultation with relevant stakeholders, as required
    • Dressing changes
    • Education of the injured worker for self-care
    • Progress and discharge reports
    • Travel time and expenses
 $45.00 per 30-minute increment
($90.00 per hour)

Wound care/home IV
medical supplies
fee code - 19744

 Billable if medical supplies could not be picked up/delivered from a medical supplies provider and stock supplies need to be used

Invoice as per compensable medical supply expenses.

Unit = "1" and the total cost of the supplies will be the cost per unit.

E.g. Total cost of supplies for dressing change = $37.14. Invoice as 1 unit of $37.18, not multiple units of individual items, since the maximum amount billable per date of service is 3 units, up to a maximum of $200 per unit.