For many, receiving regular chiropractic treatment is essential to managing chronic pain. When the Workers Compensation Board previously made the decision to significantly limit the amount of chiropractic treatment one is entitled to, many were alarmed. Recently, however, the Medical Treatment Guidelines have been amended to allow for chronic pain to be treated more appropriately. The new rules, that go into effect as of March 1, 2013, state that those who have a previously observed and documented objective deterioration in functional status without chiropractic treatment are entitled to up to 10 visits a year to their chiropractor. To be eligible for maintenance care such as chiropractic treatment, injured workers with chronic pain must have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), have a permanent disability, and meet the requirements of the maintenance care program.

Simply put, this means that if you required chiropractic treatment in the past, are permanently disabled, and have reached maximum medical improvement, you are entitled to up to 10 visits a year to your chiropractor. We are encouraged that the Workers Compensation Board recognized the value of ongoing regular chiropractic visits.