Billing with MSI
If you provide care to a worker with a WCB claim, you’ll bill through MSI (Medical Services Insurance)—the same system you use for Department of Health and Wellness (DHW) patients.
All billing goes through Medavie Blue Cross, which administers MSI on behalf of DHW and WCB. This ensures your office is paid directly and efficiently using the same trusted billing process you already use for your regular patients.
How to bill
- Submit bills electronically through your standard MSI billing software.
- Select WCB as the payee instead of DHW when submitting the claim.
- Include the worker’s WCB claim number and Nova Scotia Health Card Number (if available).
- If the claim and Health Card numbers are unavailable, include the month and year of the worker’s injury.
- All physician payments are processed by MSI/Medavie Blue Cross and reimbursed by WCB.
- For services provided outside Nova Scotia or when the worker does not have a valid Nova Scotia Health Card, submit a paper invoice directly to WCB. See more information below for Direct billing to WCB.
Note: WCB physician billing now follows the MSI fee schedule. However, certain unique WCB billing codes will continue to be used.
Download the WCB billing code chart (PDF).
When to bill
- Submit within 6 months of the service date. The MSI system automatically rejects bills received after this period.
If a bill is marked “held”
Occasionally, a bill may be marked as “held” in your billing software. This happens when the system identifies missing or mismatched information.
- “Held” bills are automatically re-reviewed each day for 30 days.
- If still unresolved, they are manually reviewed by MSI assessment staff.
Eligibility updates
You will get a letter by regular mail to update you when a worker’s claim changes. For example, you’ll be notified when coverage is approved, denied, or closed. You’ll also be notified if the worker moves to long-term benefits.
If there’s a billing issue
If your submission fails or you receive an error message:
- Contact Medavie Blue Cross General Assessment Department—they handle all billing troubleshooting.
- Phone: 902-496-7011 (Choose extension 1, then 2)
- Fax: 902-490-2275
- Medavie will review the worker’s eligibility record (the electronic approval link from WCB).
- If the record hasn’t transferred yet, MSI will connect with WCB on your behalf for authorization.
- Once resolved, MSI will contact your office to confirm you can resubmit the bill.
This process may take up to 2 weeks. Please wait for MSI’s confirmation before resubmitting.
You do not need to contact WCB directly for electronic billing issues. MSI will coordinate with WCB and update you when the issue is resolved.
Direct billing to WCB
Some fees that fall outside the MSI schedule or cannot be processed by Medavie Blue Cross may be billed directly to WCB.
If direct billing is approved, include:
- Worker’s name, date of birth, address, and health card number
- WCB claim number
- Date and type of service provided
- Invoice number (for your records)
- Fee for service
Fax: 902-491-8001
Mail:
WCB Health Services
200-137 Venture Run, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B3B 0L9
WCB does not accept invoices by email.
For questions about directly billed invoices, contact:
Phone: 1-800-870-3331
Email: physicians@wcb.ns.ca
Who to contact
- For billing issues or troubleshooting: Medavie Blue Cross General Assessment Department
- Phone: 902-496-7011 (Choose extension 1, then 2)
- Fax: 902-490-2275
- For direct-to-WCB invoice assistance (non-MSI cases only): HealthServicesInbox@wcb.ns.ca
For general WCB physician billing questions, email physicians@wcb.ns.ca