The province has announced new protocols under the Automobile Insurance Act they say will give accident victims faster and more affordable access to treatment and diagnosis.
The new diagnostic and treatment protocols focus on the most common types of injuries that can arise from car accidents: sprains, strains and whiplash associated disorders.
Insurance providers will be required to let people seek treatment immediately, from a practitioner of their choice, without advanced approval from the company.
Accident victims will no longer be required to exhaust private insurance before claiming coverage under their auto insurance.
Health care providers, who choose to provide service under the new protocols, can bill the insurance provider directly, eliminating the need for people to pay up front.
The changes, which result from recommendations stemming from a PUB review in 2019, will come into effect on December 2 to give companies and practitioners time to put processes in place.