Slight increase in Nova Scotia’s minor injury cap announced

Nova Scotia’s minor injury cap has increased to $8,213 for 2014, notes a Jan. 31 bulletin from the province’s Office of the Superintendent of Insurance.

The new cap – the limit must be reviewed annually to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index – is up from $8,100 in 2013, states the bulletin issued on behalf of Doug Murphy, Nova Scotia’s Superintendent of Insurance.

The bulletin addresses the minor injury cap amount for 2014, as well as matters regarding the Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols Regulations (intended to provide clients with necessary supplies for self-care) and updates to various policy and endorsement forms.

If a client is being treated within the diagnostic and treatment protocols, the health care practitioner may invoice the insurance company directly for the necessary supplies, states the bulletin. Items – examples include exercise balls, tensor bandages and cold packs – must be reasonably priced, itemized and required for the clients self-care, as well as used in a client’s home.

Maximum chargeable amounts for supplies or services intended for clients under the regulations related to automobile accidents is as follows:

• $160 for WAD II and third-degree sprain or strain injuries (WAD is whiplash-associated disorder);
• $120 for WAD I injury;
• $60 for first- and second-degree sprain or strain injury; or
• $160 for all sprains, strains or WAD I or II injuries of the client.