CLHIA introduces single form for short and long-term disability claims

Following on from our admin burden advocacy update last month, we’re delighted to share that there’s been further progress on one of your top concerns!

The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA) has introduced one harmonized disability medical form. The new disability medical form can be used to initiate both short- and long-term disability claims, helping to reduce administrative burden for you and improve access for patients.

Below are some key details from CLHIA about implementation:

When can healthcare providers expect insurance companies to use this new form?

• Insurers are already seeing and accepting this form.
• Insurers may need up to a year to transition their clients (employers) to the new medical disability form. The transition also involves making it available across multiple websites, which requires time to complete.

Where should clients with benefits access the new form?

• Those with benefits will be able to access the disability form on the CLHIA website, on their insurer’s website or within their plan member portal.
• However, CLHIA recognize that it will take time for insurers to add this new medical form across all their websites for plan sponsors. In the meantime, clients with benefits can access the new medical form on the CLHIAwebsite.
• The patient is responsible for submitting a completed form to their insurer.

View the new form here

This advocacy milestone shows the power of your voices in driving real change. In our recent survey, 70.4% of you identified third-party insurance forms as the most unnecessary drain on your time. The introduction of one harmonized disability medical form is a significant step forward – reducing redundant paperwork, improving efficiency across the health care system, and giving you more time to focus on what matters most: caring for your patients.

“We appreciate that the CLHIA has included the input of physicians who will use the form, which helps ensure meaningful and effective changes. The harmonized form will also streamline the process for patients to obtain supports they need while facing challenging times in their lives. We are encouraged by this positive step forward and we continue to work with organizations, like the CLHIA, to continue to reduce administrative burden for BC family physicians.”

— Dr. Katherine Bell, President, BC College of Family Physicians